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By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies
Richard Carapaz claimed a dramatic victory on the queen stage of the 2026 Tour de France, capitalizing on misfortune for Sepp Kuss to win atop Alpe d’Huez and secure the prestigious King of the Mountains title.
The Ecuadorian rider from EF Education-EasyPost produced another outstanding mountain performance to earn his second stage victory in three days, while race leader Tadej Pogačar safely defended the yellow jersey and moved to the brink of a fifth Tour de France triumph.
Kuss’s bid for victory ends in heartbreak
Stage 20, the final mountain stage of the race, covered 170.9 kilometres from Le Bourg-d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez and featured more than 5,400 metres of climbing, making it the toughest stage of this year’s Tour.
Carapaz and American climber Sepp Kuss were among the strongest riders in the day’s breakaway and eventually emerged as the final contenders for the stage victory.
Kuss attacked over the Col de Sarenne, building a lead of around 20 seconds before the final descent toward Alpe d’Huez.
However, disaster struck when the Visma-Lease a Bike rider crashed twice within the final kilometres. One of the incidents saw him slide toward the edge of the road, with roadside safety netting preventing what could have been a far more serious accident.
Carapaz seizes the opportunity
Despite Kuss’s advantage, Carapaz never gave up the chase.
The Ecuadorian steadily reduced the gap after each crash before overtaking the American in the closing kilometres.
Carapaz crossed the finish line alone in 4 hours, 59 minutes and 39 seconds, taking one of the biggest victories of his Tour career.
Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel finished second, 26 seconds behind, while Kuss bravely recovered to complete the stage in third despite his crashes.
Stage 20 Results
- Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) – 4:59:39
- Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +26s
- Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) +31s
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) +1:05
- Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG) +1:05
Polka-dot jersey secured
Carapaz’s aggressive riding throughout the Alpine stages was rewarded with the King of the Mountains classification, confirming him as the best climber of the 2026 Tour de France.
The Ecuadorian repeatedly animated the race during the final week, attacking from breakaways and collecting valuable mountain points on the race’s toughest ascents.
His performances have made him one of the standout riders of this year’s Tour despite not challenging for the overall victory.
Pogačar on the verge of history
Behind the stage battle, Tadej Pogačar focused exclusively on protecting his commanding lead in the General Classification.
Rather than pursuing another stage victory, the Slovenian worked to support teammate Isaac del Toro, helping the young Mexican strengthen his grip on third place overall.
With only the ceremonial final stage remaining, Pogačar now stands on the verge of winning his fifth Tour de France title, barring any unforeseen incidents.
General Classification after Stage 20
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +6:26
- Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG) +9:42
Final stage shortened
Organizers also confirmed that the traditional final stage into Paris has been shortened due to major wildfires in southwestern France, allowing emergency services and security personnel to be redeployed to areas affected by the fires.
The revised finale is expected to remain largely ceremonial for the General Classification, with sprinters likely to contest the prestigious victory on the Champs-Élysées.
A memorable mountain finale
While Carapaz celebrated a remarkable triumph and the polka-dot jersey, the day was equally remembered for Sepp Kuss’s dramatic near-miss after twice crashing while leading the race.
The American’s resilience allowed him to finish on the podium, but the queen stage ultimately belonged to Carapaz, whose determination and persistence produced one of the defining victories of the 2026 Tour de France.
CHE SPAVENTO PER KUSS 😱
Sepp Kuss, lanciato a tutta verso la vittoria, cade in curva e Carapaz lo sorpassa a tutta velocità.
Fortunatamente, grazie alla rete presente, Kuss è rimasto illeso. #Ciclismo #Cycling #TourdeFrance #TDF2026 pic.twitter.com/DGSu6jLqNx
— Eurosport IT (@Eurosport_IT) July 25, 2026