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

sportsJul 25, 202643618

ALPE D'HUEZ, France, July 25 Richard Carapaz won Stage 20 of the Tour de France, riding clear to victory on the 170.9 km mountain route from Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez. Riding for EF Education-EasyPost, Carapaz claimed his second stage win in three days and secured the mountains classification, earning the polka-dot jersey. American Sepp Kuss twice crashed in a tunnel and on a descent in the closing kilometres; Carapaz crossed the line 31 seconds ahead of Kuss, while Remco Evenepoel finished second, 26 seconds behind Carapaz. Carapaz's sports director Charlie Wegelius praised his perseverance, saying, "He showed perseverance. He just kept on going." Race leader Tadej Pogacar safely finished the penultimate stage and holds more than a seven-minute overall lead, leaving him all but certain to claim a fifth Tour de France title on Sunday. Carapaz will wear the polka-dot jersey into the shortened 89 km finale in Paris, and the podium battle remains between Pogacar, Evenepoel, and Isaac del Toro.

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

864h ago

Simon2

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

Maurice O'Leary1

Magnificent. Ben Healy did a great piece of pacing.

Quoting this

Simon8

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

684h 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

54Yesterday

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

425h ago

Quoting this

Ben Berry3

Yeah baby! Pink Polka Dots on the Champs!

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

383h ago

Lukas Knöfler

@lukascph.bsky.social

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

304h 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

23Yesterday

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

2211h ago

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

243h ago

Mark Allen

@markallen.io

Watching Richard Carapaz attack in the mountains is such a delight. It feels like he's the purest embodiment of vintage climbers in the modern peloton, and impossible to root against.

Richard Carapaz climbs through cheering roadside crowds in the Alps on his way to winning Stage 18 of the 2026 Tour de France.

18Yesterday

Carol

@butdiscourse.bsky.social

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

194h ago

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

@alswifejacky.bsky.social

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

184h 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

114h 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)

115h ago

[BRDM]

@cycleboredom.bsky.social

Well shit, the maillot pois actually good in the mountains. Buen trabajo Richie 👏👏👏 #tdf2026

114h 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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