Richard Carapaz climbs to eighth overall in Tour de France after strong stage 19

Richard Carapaz is making a significant impact at the 2026 Tour de France, demonstrating strong performances in recent stages. The Ecuadorian cyclist secured a third-place finish in stage 19, a result that propelled him two positions up to eighth in the general classification.

Carapaz narrowly missed out on a second consecutive stage victory, being overtaken by Tadej Pogačar in the final stretch. Pogačar claimed the win with a time of 3:17:57, followed by Lenny Martínez, with Carapaz completing the podium just nine seconds behind the winner.

This latest podium finish brings Carapaz's accumulated time to 68:14:15, placing him 21 minutes behind the race leader with only two stages remaining. This strong performance suggests the EF Education-EasyPost rider is on track to finish within the top ten overall.

Beyond his general classification standing, Carapaz also took the lead in the mountains classification, earning 91 points to Pogačar's 90. He will wear the distinctive polka-dot jersey in stage 20, aiming to defend his lead and secure the King of the Mountains title for the second time in his career.

Carapaz's aggressive riding was further recognized when he was awarded the most combative rider prize for the fourth time in this edition of the Tour. This accolade highlights his consistent offensive presence and significant protagonism throughout the race's final week.