"I wasn't a threat to the general classification" - Disappointed Carapaz finds himself in familiar Tour de France position as victory slips away
CyclingWednesday, 15 July 2026 at 13:15
Tadej Pogacar made it three stages in the 2026 Tour de France on Tuesday as his Massif Central raid saw him break away from the general classification favourites in a soaring attack on the penultimate climb of the day.
However, when he did make his move and leave Jonas Vingegaard and the rest of the contenders behind, he wasn't the leading rider of the race - Richard Carapaz was already ahead after attacking some climbs before.
As UAE Team Emirates - XRG controlled the pace and the favourites group slimmed down to just the general classification hopefuls, Carapaz made his move. Already over fifteen minutes down on the yellow jersey, the EF Education - EasyPost rider had hoped that he could breakaway from GC hostilities.
"In the end, we knew today's stage would be very difficult, especially at the beginning where UAE Team controlled the race a lot," Carapaz said after the finish.
"I tried an attack; I had the legs to do it. We tried to win the stage and I did everything I could."
Pogacar's attack ends Carapaz's stage chances
The Ecuadorian hinted that he and his team had been planning an assault on the stage for some time. Building a lead of around a minute ahead of the favourites, things were looking good for Carapaz.
However, with 16 kilometers to go, Pogacar took flight and caught Carapaz in short order. The Slovenian ruthlessly then dropped him shortly after as the race got away from Carapaz and the elusive stage win chase for EF continues.
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He added: "I knew the course, I knew there was a series of climbs that suited me perfectly. I wasn't a threat to the general classification, so I tried to attack from afar. I knew I had a good chance, but in the end, it wasn't enough to win."
Carapaz has been a regular feature in recent Tour de France editions and has already shown fine form, taking third place on stage 3 as well as Tuesday's attack.
However, he faces a long wait before the weekend as the sprinters once again move centre stage. Stages 11 and 12 will be contested by the fast men before a potential breakaway opportunity for Carapaz and other attackers on Friday before a high mountains feast over the weekend.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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