Richard Carapaz wins Tour de France queen stage, claims polka-dot jersey

sportsJul 25, 202646708

Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz won Stage 20 of the Tour de France on July 25, riding clear to victory on the iconic Alpe d'Huez after a 170.9 km stage from Le Bourg-d'Oisans. Carapaz finished 31 seconds ahead of Sepp Kuss, who crashed twice in the closing kilometres, and 26 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel, who took second. The EF Education-EasyPost rider also secured the mountains classification, with sports director Charlie Wegelius praising Carapaz's perseverance. Race leader Tadej Pogacar retained a lead of more than seven minutes and is all but certain to claim a fifth Tour title on Sunday. Isaac del Toro strengthened his hold on third overall by finishing fifth on the stage, while French teenager Paul Seixas dropped to 10th and now trails del Toro by 2 minutes 14 seconds. Organisers shortened Sunday’s final stage to 89 km from 133 km to free security resources for fighting wildfires near Bordeaux.

EF Pro Cycling

@efprocycling.com

🚂🔴⚪️ KING OF THE MOUNTAIN, KING OF THE QUEEN STAGE. Richard Carapaz wins on Alpe d’Huez on Stage 20 of Le Tour de France💥 📸: @gettyimages.com

10445d ago

Maurice O'Leary3

Magnificent. Ben Healy did a great piece of pacing.

Simon2

👑 Well deserved after so many Days in the break, fighting it out all day long.

Quoting this

Simon11

Carapaz mein 🦁 mein 🐻. Die letzen Tag so hart gekämpft, immer in der Fluchtgruppe, durchgehend spannende Duelle und dann heute mit so einem Banger durchgesetzt.* So ghyler Radsport immer am Limit und komplett mitreißend. *Stürze von Kuss allerdings schade.

Lady Starblade

@ladystarblade.bsky.social

My heart did break for Sepp. Without those crashes, he probably would have had it. Great ride by Carapaz for the win. Remco amazing, Pogi a loyal superdom, awesome scenes. Now, let’s see how long it takes for the gruppetto to crawl in. Tomorrow would be weird with only 20 guys in it. #TDF2026

6945d ago

Tonke6

I was checking on Huub just before Carapaz came in and the live tracking ended, and he was one of the last 33 minutes behind. With the time cut around 50 minutes I have good hope he, and most of the peloton, will make it

Bart Cunningham3

Sepp will probably only realise later, when he sees the footage, just how lucky he was. And it must have shook him.

jillnaustin2

that was just awful for him.

tykebrahe.bsky.social1

Totally agree, but Pog the hero :obviously intended to deliver del Toro to a stage victory , but stayed to pace him to the line when his legs were not up to it. Cost Pog another stage win Remco knew he had blown it by attacking too late . But Carapaz deserved the stage win Brilliant stage

robyn

@robynemz.bsky.social

pure love for the game from richard carapaz this must be his 500,000th attack in the last few kilometres

5446d ago

ammattipyöräily

@ammattipyoraily.bsky.social

📊 Nelson Oliveira (Ⓜ️) completed his 500th consecutive Grand Tour stage today without a single DNS, DNF or DSQ. Oliveira will make procycling history on Champs Elysees as he takes sole pole position for longest streak of finished GTs — 24 (from 🚴‍♂️s 1st GT). ______________ 🇫🇷 #TDF2026

5145d ago

the Inner Ring blog

@inrng.com

Richard Carapaz crosses the Col du Galibier in first place, wins the Henri Desgrange prize and takes an unbeatable lead in the mountains competition

4645d ago

Quoting this

Ben Berry3

Yeah baby! Pink Polka Dots on the Champs!

Domestique

@domestiquecycling.com

Video: 🇺🇸 Kuss denied Alpe d'Huez glory after crashing twice on descent of Col de Sarenne 🗣️ “I was trying to keep my gap over Richard Carapaz, and I was trying to get the most out of every corner. I misjudged a corner.” 📰 www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/vide... 📸 Cor Vos

3045d ago

Quoting this

Katie8

I guess I’m not sad I missed today.

Lukas Knöfler

@lukascph.bsky.social

🇪🇨 Richie Carapaz winning in Alpe d'Huez wearing the maillot à pois. ¡Bravo! #TDF2026

3245d ago

Tour de France Hommes

@letour.stadio.top

🇪🇨 Richard Carapaz : « C'était l'objectif du jour, on savait qu'il y avait des points à prendre. Je suis très content de porter ce maillot. Nous avons une mission : le garder jusqu'à Paris. » ⚪️🔴 L'interview du nouveau porteur du maillot à pois, c'est ici. ⤵️ #TDF2026

2346d ago

CyclingYazz🇩🇰🚴‍♀️

@cyclingyazz.bsky.social

It’s time for the queen stage of #TDF2026! While the fight for 💛 looks settled, the battle for the podium and the top 5 is still open Will UAE control the race, or will the breakaway get a chance? 👀 We’re also likely to see Richard Carapaz go all-in for the 🔴⚪️ jersey

2346d ago

Dan Deakins

@dandeakins.bsky.social

Richie Carapaz, you tiny dancer 😍 An incredible stage, and so much to keep track of - UAE falling apart on Galibier - Pogacar riding too hard for Del Toro - Decathlon blowing up Seixas - Sepp nearly having a horrific crash - Pogacar choice to stay with Del Toro - Remco within 26" of the win Cinema

Richard Carapaz wins stage 20 of the 2026 Tour de France

2845d ago

Šimis Cyclist2

So that's who Elton John was singing about!

John2

These last stages have been simmering nicely… and Mads P snagging the last sprint points today was Herculean too

Annemiek van der Sluijs1

Mads securing his green jersey 💪 for me THE man of this Tour, unbelievable guy 🙉

Carol

@butdiscourse.bsky.social

Sepp, I'm so sorry, my dude. That sucks so much. #TdF2026

1945d ago

Jacky-I'm retired & love it-still masking 😷

@alswifejacky.bsky.social

Chapeau Richard Carapaz but such heartbreak for Sepp Kuss #tdf2026 #tdf

1845d ago

Dr. Dawn Wright

@deepseadawn.bsky.social

All I can say is that if today’s Tour de France stage wasn’t a metaphor for LIFE, with all the various storylines, I don’t know what is!!

Picture of Dawn’s golden retriever Riley facing the camera with the TV behind her showing Richard Carapaz, an Ecuadorean on an American team, crossing the finish line of Tour Stage 20 after passing Sepp Kuss, an American on a Dutch team, who crashed twice while in the lead.

1545d ago

Katiestereo

@katiestereo.bsky.social

I’m so bummed for Kuss, Americans are rarely in the mix at #TDF2026 And he was actually really well positioned to win this stage today

1145d ago

Michael Baumann

@baumann.bsky.social

Top five riders on the road at the Tour de France today: 1) Sepp Kuss (American) 2) Jai Hindley (Australia is upside-down America) 3) Richard Carapaz (Rides for an American team 4) Juan Ayuso (speaks perfect English with an American accent) 5) Matthew Riccitello (American)

1145d ago

3 sources

channelnewsasia.comEcuadorian Richard Carapaz wins 20th stage of Tour de France sportschau.deTour: Carapaz gewinnt nach Sturz-Drama die Königsetappe defector.comA Good Tour de France Is In The Eye Of The Beholder | Defector

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Richard Carapaz wins Tour de France queen stage, claims polka-dot jersey

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