Tour de France: Richard Carapaz wins breakaway epic on brutal stage 20 to Alpe d'Huez after late disaster by Sepp Kuss - Cyclingnews

What the report says

Cyclingnews reported that Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost won a dramatic stage 20 of the Tour de France on Alpe d’Huez, taking victory from a breakaway on the 170km penultimate mountain stage. Sepp Kuss of Visma-Lease a Bike had appeared to be in position to win after attacking with 17.4km remaining, but he crashed twice in the final 10km, including after leaving a dark tunnel, allowing Carapaz to pass and ride clear.

Carapaz finished 31 seconds ahead of Kuss, while Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe overtook the American in the final 500 metres to take second, 26 seconds behind the winner. Kuss held on for third. Cyclingnews said Carapaz had also sealed the mountains classification by taking maximum points on the Col du Galibier, adding the polka-dot jersey to his stage success.

The decisive breakaway formed with about 152km remaining and included 14 riders, among them Carapaz, Kuss, Jai Hindley, Ben Healy, Juan Ayuso and several Visma-Lease a Bike riders. Carapaz, Kuss and Hindley emerged as the strongest climbers after attacks over the Galibier and Col de Sarenne, before Hindley faded and the race turned on Kuss’s late mishaps.

In the general classification battle, race leader Tadej Pogačar finished fourth and, according to Cyclingnews, effectively secured a fifth Tour de France title. He spent the stage helping UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Isaac del Toro, who protected the final podium place and the white jersey, while Paul Seixas was distanced on the Col de Sarenne.