The twentieth and penultimate stage of the 2026 Tour de France delivered thrills and some dramatic moments. Richard Carapaz (EF Education EasyPost) claimed victory after the 170 kilometers scheduled for today, reaching and overtaking an unfortunate Sepp Kuss just 4 kilometers from the Alpe d'Huez finish line after the American had crashed twice while riding solo at the front. The Ecuadorian, skillfully maintaining his rhythm, crossed the finish line with his arms raised, wearing the polka dot jersey (mathematically his after today's stage) with a 26-second advantage over Evenepoel. The Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe Belgian delivered an impressive comeback to finish second ahead of Kuss, third at 31 seconds after a day spent in the breakaway that earned him the day's most combative rider award. In fourth place came Pogacar, who had preceded his UAE Team Emirates - XRG teammate Del Toro after setting the pace of the chase against the breakaway riders for many kilometers.
The Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates - XRG leads the general classification by 6'26" over Evenepoel and is preparing to celebrate tomorrow in Paris at the end of the final stage, which has been shortened by organizers due to the wildfire emergency affecting France.
THE RACE. Barely had the starting flag dropped when six riders moved to the front: Georg Steinhauser (EF Education - EasyPost), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility), Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarchè), Xabier Mikel Azparren (Pinarello Q36.5), Joris Delbove (TotalEnergies) and Warren Barguil (Team Picnic PostNL). At the start of the climb towards Croix de Fer, Veistroffer lost contact and after a few kilometers, Steinhauser (EF Education - EasyPost), Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility), Azparren (Pinarello Q36.5) and Barguil (Team Picnic PostNL) remained at the front.
At the nineteenth kilometer, the action of the day's early attackers was neutralized and shortly after other attackers launched their bids: a group of fifteen riders formed including Bruno Armirail (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Sepp Kuss (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Davide Piganzoli (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Jai Hindley (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe), Juan Ayuso (Lidl - Trek), Richard Carapaz (EF Education - EasyPost), Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost), Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS), Tobias Foss (Netcompany INEOS), Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) and Clément Braz Afonso (Groupama - FDJ United).
Three kilometers before the summit, with a lightning attack, the Ecuadorian in the polka dot jersey moved to a solo lead and went on to claim the Croix de Fer mountain prize ahead of Valentin Paret-Peintre and Piganzoli third, with the other members of the group behind them, where Ayuso was joined, after a strong comeback, by Pedersen.
Around the fiftieth kilometer of the race, the leading group came back together and so at the front were Bruno Armirail (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Sepp Kuss (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Davide Piganzoli (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Jai Hindley (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe), Juan Ayuso (Lidl - Trek), Mads Pedersen (Lidl - Trek), Richard Carapaz (EF Education - EasyPost), Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost), Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS), Tobias Foss (Netcompany INEOS), Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) and Clément Braz Afonso (Groupama - FDJ United).
The Danish former world champion claimed the intermediate sprint at Saint Julien Mont Denis thus securing the green jersey. During the subsequent climb towards Col du Télégraphe, fatigue began to take its toll among the leading group: some of the breakaway riders were dropped and at the summit Carapaz beat Piganzoli and Foss.
Towards the Col du Galibier summit, a new selection saw Carapaz and Kuss very strong while the main group of contenders, led personally by Pogacar, was closing the gap on the former breakaway riders. Heading towards Sarenne, Hindley and Kuss took turns attacking. The decisive attack came from the American who moved to the front followed by a relentless Carapaz: the two crested the summit in that order. Kuss appeared to be heading towards victory but in the final ten kilometers he crashed twice. Carapaz then took the lead and shortly after Evenepoel made his move, reaching Kuss at the finish line. Thus the day's podium took shape.
UPDATING
STAGE RESULTS
1 Carapaz Richard EF Education - EasyPost 04:59:39
2 Evenepoel Remco Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe 00:26
3 Kuss Sepp Team Visma | Lease a Bike 00:31
4 Pogačar Tadej UAE Team Emirates - XRG 01:05
5 del Toro Isaac UAE Team Emirates - XRG ,,
6 Hindley Jai Bahrain - Victorious 01:07
7 Martinez Lenny Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe 02:15
8 Skjelmose Mattias Lidl - Trek 02:55
9 Ayuso Juan Lidl - Trek ,,
10 Seixas Paul Decathlon CMA CGM Team ,,
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 Pogačar Tadej UAE Team Emirates - XRG 72:53:44
2 Evenepoel Remco Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe 06:26
3 del Toro Isaac UAE Team Emirates - XRG 09:42
4 Seixas Paul Decathlon CMA CGM Team 11:56
5 Martinez Lenny Bahrain - Victorious 13:02
6 Ayuso Juan Lidl - Trek 14:59
7 Skjelmose Mattias Lidl - Trek 17:48
8 Carapaz Richard EF Education - EasyPost 20:00
9 Pidcock Tom Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 29:28:00
10 Jegat Jordan TotalEnergies 33:21:00
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