Simmons: The Tour's top domestique for the second consecutive year

Quinn Simmons , US national road champion, has been named Best Domestique of the 2026 Tour de France for the second consecutive year by the race jury. This recognition was announced by the organizers on the official X profile of the Grande Boucle, on the eve of the final stage.

Simmons's star-spangled jersey has been a constant presence at the front of the peloton throughout the 20 stages so far, always serving the Lidl-Trek leaders: Mads Pedersen , Mattias Skjelmose , and Juan Ayuso . A quiet but crucial effort, worthy of a true luxury domestique .

A recurring figure in long-distance breakaways, Simmons played a key role in helping Denmark's Pedersen secure the green jersey in the points classification. On the road to Foix on stage four, he placed second in a stunning breakaway move alongside Pedersen (who won the stage) and Mathias Vacek, giving Lidl-Trek its only stage win to date.

The award was presented this morning in Thoiry, during the team presentation, with a check for €3,000 . Simmons had previously received €2,000 as the best domestique in the second week. The weekly award for the first part of the race went to Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarché), while the third week's award went to Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech), who was recognized for his support of Jasper Philipsen in a sprint victory.

Not everything went smoothly, however. Simmons didn't hide his frustrations during the race: "I think the team made it pretty clear that they care more about Mads winning the green jersey than me winning a stage," he declared after missing the breakaway in stage 15. His words were sharp, but he quickly softened: "At the end of the day, they're the ones signing my paycheck, so I have to do what they tell me. I'm here 100% to support Mads in his goal of winning the green jersey."

Sports director Steven de Jongh responded sympathetically after the seventeenth stage: "I understand his frustration, and I think the same goes for Vacek. But we came here with a specific goal: to win the green stage with Mads." A goal he achieved on Saturday with an extraordinary performance in the mountains by the Danish champion.

The collective effort of Simmons and his teammates also contributed to the team classification victory—celebrated with the characteristic yellow helmets—and to Skjelmose and Ayuso's sixth and seventh place overall finishes, respectively. A team Tour to remember.

On the final stage to Paris, the final act of the 2026 Grande Boucle, Simmons will finally have carte blanche to chase the stage victory he's dreamed of for years. With the green jersey already secured, Lidl-Trek could leave him free to play his cards on the classic-style route leading to Montmartre.