17 Jul 2021

Carapaz on brink of third at Le Tour

Related riders

Richard Carapaz

Tour de France - Stage 20 » Libourne › Saint-Émilion ITT, 30.8km

Richard Carapaz put in a strong time trial performance to all but confirm third place at the Tour de France.

The Ecuadorian will ride into Paris with his Grenadiers team-mates on Sunday with a comfortable advantage back to fourth place, and is set to complete a collection of podium finishes at all three Grand Tours.

Carapaz sits 7:03 seconds back on race winner in waiting Tadej Pogacar, and 1:43 back on runner-up Jonas Vingegaard.

Dylan van Baarle was the highest finishing Grenadier on the day, setting the 10th fastest time on the road into Saint-Emilion. Jonathan Castroviejo also continued his superb Tour with 13th fastest time on the day.

Reaction

- Geraint Thomas

"It was nice to ride on my own and enjoy the crowd with lovely weather and nice roads.

"It’s certainly been an up and down race. It’s probably the toughest Tour I’ve done mentally. I came here to fight for the win or at least a podium. So for that to just disappear on stage eight, and to be back there – that’s not where I wanted to be and what I’d trained all year for. To get through all that I can be proud of that. It will be nice to see my son in Paris tomorrow. That will be a nice moment."

Overall standings:

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 80:16:59
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) +5:20"
3. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) +7:03"
4. Ben O'Connor (AG2R Citroen) +10:02"
5. Wilco Kelderman (Bora-Hansgrohe) +10:13"