Twenty-four hours can completely change the face of a Tour de France. Richard Carapaz proved it in the most spectacular way possible. After the anger and disappointment of finishing third in the nineteenth stage, when he accused Lenny Martinez of cutting him off in the final, the EF Education-EasyPost Ecuadorian took memorable revenge, conquering the twentieth stage with the finish at Alpe d'Huez and putting the seal on an extraordinary Grande Boucle.

For Carapaz it is his second stage victory in this edition of the Tour de France, a result that adds to the conquest of the polka dot jersey for best climber and an eighth place in the general classification that once again confirms the value of the former Olympic champion.

A Tour that began with the awareness of not being able to compete for the yellow jersey and concluded in the best possible way, as the absolute protagonist of the final week.

«There was a moment when I couldn't believe what was happening», Carapaz said after crossing the finish line. «At the start of the stage I only thought about the polka dot jersey. That was my main objective».

Then, as the kilometers passed, everything changed. «After climbing the first two ascents I realized I could also try to win the stage. That's when I decided to attack».

From that moment on, a relentless battle began on the mountains of the Tour, against some of the best climbers in the peloton.

«It was an extremely difficult day. I found myself battling with riders who have already won Grand Tours, like Sepp Kuss and Jai Hindley. Sepp, in particular, was a truly formidable opponent».

Carapaz had to race constantly at the limit of his abilities. «I stayed at maximum effort all day long. On the descent everything happened, honestly I can't even explain well what occurred. I kept attacking and when we reached the final climb I realized I would have to suffer a lot more».

Behind him, the general classification contenders were progressively making up ground. «I knew that Remco Evenepoel and Sepp Kuss were very close and to manage to win I had to give everything I had».

The effort was rewarded in the most beautiful way. «Winning at Alpe d'Huez is something wonderful. And managing to do it while wearing a special jersey like the polka dot makes everything even more emotional. I believe I deserved it because in this Tour I fought every single day».

The Ecuadorian's words tell the story of the satisfaction of someone who had prepared this Grande Boucle with objectives very different from the general classification. «This Tour de France has been a dream. When we left Barcelona I knew I couldn't compete for the general classification. That's why I had set a specific objective and I believe I achieved it».

Two stage victories, the polka dot jersey for best climber and an eighth place in the final standings represent a haul of absolute prestige for the EF Education-EasyPost leader, who once again confirmed himself as one of the most combative riders in the peloton.

«This Tour has been incredible», Carapaz continued. «I want to thank all the fans and especially all the people who supported me from Ecuador. I'm sure that at this moment they will be celebrating».

The victory in the queen stage represents the perfect finale of a Grande Boucle lived always on the attack. Carapaz interpreted the Tour with the courage that has always characterized his way of racing, never settling and seeking every day the right opportunity to make his mark.

After the bitterness experienced twenty-four hours earlier, the Ecuadorian champion found the best possible response: raising his arms to the sky at Alpe d'Huez, definitively securing the polka dot jersey and closing the Tour de France with the awareness of having been one of the great protagonists of the 2026 edition.