"I can’t ask for anything else" - Alpe d'Huez win caps off perfect Tour de France for Richard Carapaz
CyclingSaturday, 25 July 2026 at 17:29
Richard Carapaz put the finishing touch to an unforgettable 2026 Tour de France with a hugely prestigious win on the Alpine queen stage. The EF Education-EasyPost rider from Ecuador sealed his second stage victory of the edition after an epic battle against the likes of Sepp Kuss and Jai Hindley; and clinched the mountains classification as well.
The Ecuadorian joined the day's breakaway once again, capturing enough points to seal the KOM classification, and having the legs to attack the Col de la Croix de Fer and then once again the Col du Galibier.
Carapaz admitted that for much of the day he did not even realise he could end up celebrating. “There was a moment when I didn’t believe it myself. It was a very, very hard stage for me.”
The Ecuadorian explained that his first goal was to secure the mountains classification, but the race dynamics made him change strategy. “At the start I was fighting for the polka dots because I knew it would be tough. After the first two climbs I thought: ‘I’m going to try to win the stage.’”
The fight was full-gas to the line against two riders with major palmarès. “In the finale I had two Grand Tour winners in front of me, Jai Hindley and Sepp Kuss. Sepp was really hard to shake. I was always on the limit.”
But after being dropped on the Col de Sarenne, he benefited from the crashes of Sepp Kuss in the final descent. He then took the lead of the race.
Carapaz confessed the tension did not lift until he crossed the line, aware that both Kuss and the GC favourites were still close.
“On the descent something happened and I opened a small gap, but I kept pushing because I knew the group behind was at about 30 seconds and Sepp was barely ten away.”
The final four kilometres felt endless. “I suffered a lot. The last four kilometres to the finish were brutal.”
Richard Carapaz won the final mountain stage of the Tour de France
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A dream Tour for Carapaz
At 33, the Ecuadorian said this victory carries special meaning and feels like a reward for all the work put in over three weeks.
“It was beautiful to win here with this jersey. I think I deserve it because I fought so hard throughout this Tour.”
With two stage wins and the mountains title, Carapaz could hardly ask for more. “Two stages and this jersey… I can’t ask for anything else. It’s been a dream Tour.”
The EF Education-EasyPost leader explained that in the opening days he realised he did not have the legs to fight for the general classification and decided to switch plans completely.
“From the first stages, in Barcelona, I saw I wasn’t there to contest the GC. It was very clear in my head.”
From then on he focused all his efforts on stage wins and the mountains classification.
“I knew exactly what I wanted to do and in the end we achieved it: the polka-dot jersey and now a second stage victory.” Still, he will finish the race in eighth place due to his climbing performances and the lack of chase from his rivals this afternoon once again.
A message for Ecuador
Carapaz closed by remembering all the fans who supported him over these three weeks and celebrating a Tour that will rank among the best of his career.
“Tomorrow in Paris will be another story, but today this Tour has been amazing. The crowd and everyone following me from home will be shouting with joy.”
With his show on the queen stage, Richard Carapaz puts the exclamation point on a historic 2026 Tour de France for Ecuadorian cycling. Two stage wins, the polka-dot jersey, and constant visibility make this one of the brightest editions of his career.
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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- But…Jonas wasn’t there. And now UAE has two riders on the podium, both the Yellow and White jerseys, and Pogacar helped his good friend. Pogi’s teammates love him for good reason: he enjoys helping them succeed as well.DAS25-07-2026
- Stoked for Carapaz. love the way he always goes for it and is willing to risk it all for the win.mij25-07-2026
- I don’t know where you got this from but I’d be interested coz just about EVERYTHING here I can show is total BS if you compare with what he said at the time.Jumpyjohn25-07-2026
- What a BS article. This SOB said: “I could tell from looking at him that Pogacar was frustrated and angry today.”... WTF was he trying to tell us? OMG, UAE lost Mcnulty...Yates is ill, Wellens is ill Now Pogi will lose the Tour and Remco will prevail ...bla bla bla...mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales25-07-2026
- The management needs to change. How will signing them help the team? Do they have the best training regime? Those who left INEOS like Carapaz, Danny Martinez, Narveaz and Pidcock perform better than current INEOS after they left. It seems like talent goes to die there. They don't win jersey, monuments nor GC podium for the past few years. Even their TT technical lead left for BORA.
KerisVroom25-07-2026 - mauro tells us he was a victim of someone else injecting him with something when he was racing (so it's not his fault he thinks) and he was a victim of his own riders doping at home and the uci apparently lied to him about his own riders' doping. really hard to take mauro seriously. nothing is ever his fault, he's an eternal victim. and almost like he's telling us if his current riders are doping, he knows nothing about it. he is so sketchy. if he was looking to remove doubt from tadej he muddied the waters insteadwhkman25-07-2026
- Thanks, stopped me reading it :-)Mistermaumau25-07-2026
- I’ve seen this happen over a caravan catch attempt eith zero alcohol involved. Not really surprising to have an occasional fight when you have 100 to 200k spectators packed together grabbing stuff. As a cyclist you’d know far less can start the same, like just using a public road. I tend to give away most of what I catch to nearby kids or their parents.Mistermaumau25-07-2026
- At the Ballon d’Alsace they placed the rope at the edge of the tarmac where a deep v-shaped gully carries the run-off before a 45 degree incline into the forest. Needless to say, not one person stayed behind.Mistermaumau25-07-2026
- Kuss! Was so hoping he won the stage today. Head up high, you gave it your best!b3tlla25-07-2026
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