Pogacar Poised for Historic Fifth Tour de France Title as Carapaz Claims Stage 20

New Delhi, India Jul 25, 2026 ALN: Tadej Pogacar is set to secure a record-equalling fifth Tour de France after a dramatic stage 20 saw Ecuador's Richard Carapaz clinch victory on Alpe d'Huez as Sepp Kuss crashed twice while leading in the last few kilometres.

If Pogacar avoids a race-ending crash on Sunday's final stage to Paris, in which the overall standings are traditionally not contested, he will become the joint-most successful rider in the Tour's history alongside Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain. This achievement would not only solidify Pogacar's status as one of the greatest cyclists of all time but also add to the rich narrative of the Tour de France, a race steeped in history and tradition.

Pogacar, 27, of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, finished the three-week Grand Tour's 'queen' stage in fourth place after helping his 22-year-old Mexican team-mate Isaac del Toro provisionally seal third place on the overall podium and the young rider classification's white jersey. This selfless act of teamwork highlights the camaraderie often seen in professional , where riders must balance personal ambition with the goals of their team.

The pair crossed the line together with their arms around each other's shoulders after Pogacar paced a suffering Del Toro up the final climb, a moment that will likely be etched in the memories of fans for years to come. It exemplifies the spirit of the Tour, where individual efforts can lead to collective triumphs, and the bonds formed during the grueling race can last a lifetime.

Pogacar will claim his fifth overall yellow jersey in Paris by six minutes and 26 seconds over Belgium's Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, after Evenepoel finished the stage in second, 26 seconds behind Carapaz, after a late charge. This margin reflects Pogacar's dominance throughout the race, showcasing his ability to maintain a lead against fierce competition.

"I did my best to help Isaac," said Pogacar afterwards. "Massive respect for what all the guys have been doing in the past three weeks. I finally experienced [being a domestique] myself and I already before appreciate [the] work of team-mates, but now it's like another level. It was goosebumps [as we crossed the line together]. [It] was fantastic and one for the memories."

On his future, he added: "I definitely will not be doing this for too much [of a] long time, I think. Isaac showed great potential, but we don't put any pressure yet on Isaac." These comments reflect Pogacar's understanding of the pressures that come with elite and his desire to nurture the next generation of talent, emphasizing the importance of mentorship in s.

Race organizers ASO announced during the stage that Sunday's finale will have its distance reduced from 133km to 89km after the redirection of emergency services to help tackle devastating wildfires in the south-west of the country. This decision underscores the unpredictable nature of the Tour de France, where external factors can influence the race's structure and outcomes. It also highlights the ongoing environmental challenges faced by regions in France and the broader implications of climate change on outdoor ing events.

Traditionally, the final stage sees the sprinters battle for the line on the famous Champs Elysees cobbles, but a new section over Montmartre allows riders with more sustained power the potential to steal a breakaway win. This alteration in the route not only adds an element of unpredictability to the finale but also reflects the evolving strategies in professional , where teams must adapt to new challenges and conditions.

A Double Crash That So Nearly Ended in Disaster

The most demanding stage of the whole race was left to the penultimate day, in which riders had to climb 5,450 metres across three hors category climbs covering 170.9km to finish in the iconic Alpe d'Huez ski-resort for a second time in two days. This stage is notorious for its steep gradients and breathtaking views, making it a favorite among enthusiasts and a critical point in the race.

American Kuss of Visma-Lease a Bike was part of a large early breakaway which contained riders looking for a stage win, and attacked alone with about 25km to go. Kuss, who had previously shown remarkable resilience and skill in the Vuelta a España, looked to have found the strength which helped him win that race in 2023 and seemed set to hold on to a slender lead for victory.

But the often unflappable Kuss was on the ragged edge and crashed coming out of a tunnel approaching Alpe d'Huez town. He maintained his lead, but soon after crashed again on a right-hand corner after getting his line wrong, his rear wheel sliding on dust at the edge of the road before coming to a stop, half off his bike and leaning into safety netting which prevented him from falling down a sheer drop. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in , particularly in high-stakes races like the Tour de France, where the slightest miscalculation can lead to serious consequences.

The tenacious Carapaz, of EF Education-Easypost, swept past Kuss and into the lead - the 2019 Giro d'Italia winner, eventually taking his second stage win in three days and also securing victory in the king of the mountains competition. Carapaz's performance underscores his status as a formidable climber and competitor, capable of seizing opportunities when they arise.

"[I was] not really scared," Kuss told TNT afterwards. "I was just annoyed because we drove down it this morning and I looked at that corner and thought: 'Ah that's a pretty descent corner, no problem in the race,' so I took it pretty full-on. It was a bit more of a corner than I expected. My wife won't let me race my bike anymore - she always tells me not take risks on the downhills, but you've got to have a little adrenaline rush every once in a while." Kuss's reflections highlight the mental and emotional aspects of racing, where confidence can be both a strength and a vulnerability.

Typically, on a stage such as this one in the French Alps, Pogacar would be expected to deliver yet another masterclass but he held back to help Del Toro, who at one point was starting to struggle on the Col du Galibier, to defend his white jersey and third place overall from French sensation Paul Seixas of Decathlon CMA-CGM. This strategic decision illustrates Pogacar's understanding of the race dynamics and his commitment to his team's objectives, prioritizing the collective success over individual glory.

The 19-year-old Seixas finally ran out of energy on the final mountain of the race and is set to finish fourth in the general classification, 11 minutes and 56 seconds down on Pogacar's overall time. Seixas's performance throughout the Tour has garnered attention and admiration, highlighting the emergence of young talent in the world of professional .

Britain's Tom Pidcock of Pinarello-Q36.5 finished the stage 16th, nine minutes and three seconds down, and will finish ninth overall in the GC. Pidcock's consistent performance throughout the Tour demonstrates the depth of talent in the peloton and the competitive nature of the race.

Denmark's Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek will win the green points jersey in Paris on Sunday just by finishing as he leads Belgium's Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Premier Tech by an uncatchable 82 points. Pedersen's achievement in securing the green jersey adds another layer of excitement to the Tour, showcasing the diverse skill sets required to excel in different classifications.

Tour de France Stage 20 Results

1. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/EF Education-Easypost) 4hrs 59mins 39secs

2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +26secs

3. Sepp Kuss (USA/Visma-Lease a Bike) +31secs

4. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +1min 5secs

5. Isaac del Toro (Mex/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) same time

6. Lenny Martinez (Fra/Bahrain-Victorious) +1mins 7secs

7. Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +2mins 15secs

8. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +2mins 55secs

9. Paul Seixas (Fra/Decathlon-CMA CGM) same time

10. Juan Ayuso (Spa/Lidl-Trek)

Tour de France General Classification After Stage 20

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 72hrs 53mins 44secs

2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +6mins 26secs

3. Isaac del Toro (Mex/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +9mins 42secs

4. Paul Seixas (Fra/Decathlon-CMA-CGM) +11mins 56secs

5. Lenny Martinez (Fra/Bahrain-Victorious) +13mins 2secs

6. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +14mins 59secs

7. Juan Ayuso (Spa/Lidl-Trek) +17mins 48secs

8. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/EF Education-Easypost) +20mins

9. Tom Pidcock (GB/Pinarello-Q36.5) +29mins 28secs

10. Jordan Jegat (Fra/Total Energies) +33mins 21secs