Pogačar Joins the Club of Five Tours: Alpe d’Huez Crowns Carapaz and Touches History

The Tour de France has just touched history on the slopes of Alpe d’Huez. Richard Carapaz won the 20th and penultimate stage on Saturday, July 25, completing 170.9 kilometers of high mountains between Le Bourg-d’Oisans and the Isère resort. The Ecuadorian finished 26 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel and 31 seconds ahead of Sepp Kuss. But behind Carapaz’s brilliant victory, another image already dominates the cycling world: Tadej Pogačar protected his yellow jersey and is now just one stage away from his fifth triumph on the Grande Boucle.

At 27 years old, the Slovenian is poised to join Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Induráin in the exclusive club of five-time Tour winners. Unless an accident or extraordinary event occurs during the arrival in Paris on Sunday, he will become the youngest rider to reach this total. This is no longer just a sporting victory: it is a paradigm shift in Pogačar’s standing among the giants of history.

Carapaz Wins a Monumental Battle at Alpe d’Huez

Richard Carapaz did not wait for the final verdict of the general classification to make his name known on this last great day of mountain racing. Already victorious on Thursday at Orcières-Merlette, the former Olympic champion secured his second stage win in this Tour 2026. He built his victory on a day where endurance, clarity, and audacity mattered as much as watts.

The route featured several major climbs before another finish at Alpe d’Huez, just 24 hours after Pogačar’s demonstration on the same ascent. Carapaz first scored points in the mountain classification, then he held on in the final battle. His time of 4 hours 59 minutes and 39 seconds and his 26-second lead over Evenepoel reflect a complete performance against riders still fighting for honorable positions.

Sepp Kuss’s third-place finish adds a dramatic note to the result. The American was long at the heart of the duel for victory before an incident compromised his chances in the final, according to several race reports. Carapaz, however, did not let the opportunity slip away. His success offers Ecuador a global image and confirms its ability to turn the toughest stages into scenes of conquest.

Pogačar Didn’t Need to Win to Strike Even Harder

The day before, Pogačar had already claimed the first finish at Alpe d’Huez by directly dominating his rivals. This victory had practically condemned the last hopes of an upset. On Saturday, his mission was different: to control, avoid unnecessary risks, and lead the yellow jersey to the eve of Paris.

This restraint also speaks to his dominance. A less confident leader would have had to pursue every attack and defend every second. Pogačar could afford to let the stage go to Carapaz because the general classification had already been shaped by three weeks of superiority. He transformed the penultimate day into asset management, never giving the impression that the Tour could truly slip away from him.

The contrast is striking: Carapaz won the day, Pogačar locked in a place in eternity. The two narratives do not cancel each other out. They give the Tour what it produces most powerfully: a stage hero capable of overturning the scenery and a general classification leader whose trajectory now transcends the current edition.

The Youngest Five-Time Tour Winner

The number five holds a special value in the history of the Grande Boucle. Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, and Induráin represent four eras, four styles, and four forms of domination. Pogačar is set to join them at just 27 years old, younger than any of them when they reached this total.

This record of precocity immediately raises another question: where will he stop? The Slovenian still has several seasons at the top if he maintains his health, ambition, and a team capable of supporting him. Speaking of a sixth Tour already would be premature, but the mere fact that the hypothesis seems credible shows how much the historical hierarchy is shifting.

His imprint does not rest solely on his palmarès. Pogačar has imposed an offensive style, a capacity to win on varied terrains, and a media presence that transcends traditional cycling boundaries. He attracts audiences, sponsors, and a younger public. His potential fifth Tour thus becomes a global event for the economy and image of cycling.

Evenepoel Confirms His Resilience, France Awaits Its Verdict

Remco Evenepoel’s second place at Alpe d’Huez is far from anecdotal. The Belgian has once again shown that he remains the most consistent rival behind Pogačar. He could not fight for yellow, but he was present in a long and brutal stage, having already won the time trial from Évian to Thonon earlier in the week.

For France, attention also turns to Paul Seixas, a 19-year-old revelation and podium contender as well as a candidate for the white jersey. His battle with Isaac del Toro has added national tension to the last alpine stages. Regardless of the final classification on Sunday, his presence among the best already constitutes one of the great signals of this edition: France finally has a young rider capable of staying in the global conversation for three weeks.

This French dimension matters in a day dominated by an Ecuadorian, a Belgian, an American, and a Slovenian. The Tour remains the grand sporting event of July in France, but its strength comes precisely from this globalization. Alpe d’Huez functions as an international stage where flags, languages, and narratives blend into one spectacle.

Paris Must Still Render the Official Verdict

There remains one stage between Thoiry and the Champs-Élysées. Tradition dictates that the yellow jersey is not attacked on the way to Paris, but cycling never allows for the complete erasure of the risk of a fall, mechanical issue, or race incident. This is why Pogačar is not yet officially the winner at the time these lines are written.

However, the most likely scenario is clear: on Sunday evening, the Slovenian will step onto the final podium with a fifth Tour. Carapaz will retain the memory of a masterful victory on the last mountain stage. Thus, Alpe d’Huez will have offered two triumphs in one day: that of an Ecuadorian attacker who never stopped believing, and that of a Slovenian champion entering the most prestigious club in cycling.

Reliable Sources

• Tour de France — official standings of the 20th stage, July 25, 2026.
• El País — Richard Carapaz’s victory and Pogačar’s fifth Tour perspective, July 25, 2026.
• ProCyclingStats — results of the 20th stage of the Tour 2026, July 25, 2026.
• Cycling Weekly — Pogačar’s victory and record at Alpe d’Huez during the 19th stage, July 24, 2026.