Richard Carapaz of Ecuador emerged victorious in stage 17 of the Tour de France, conquering the challenging High Alps on Wednesday. The EF rider showcased his strength, outpacing Simon Yates and maintaining a solo lead for the final 10 kilometers of the race. This marked Carapaz’s maiden stage win in the Tour de France, a significant achievement following his third-place overall finish in 2021. The former Giro d’Italia champion, who also triumphed in the Tokyo Olympics road race, donned the coveted yellow jersey of the overall leader after his commanding performance in the second stage to Bologna.
The battle for the overall lead intensified in the final stages of the medium mountain run, with Tadej Pogacar, the reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel engaging in a thrilling contest. Evenepoel, currently in third place, edged out Pogacar by 12 seconds, while Vingegaard lost two seconds to the leader. Pogacar initiated the first attack, but Vingegaard was unable to match his pace. Evenepoel, however, swiftly closed the gap, and Denmark’s Vingegaard subsequently caught up with them both during a daring descent. Evenepoel then surged forward, breaking away once again and finishing strong to solidify his third place in the overall standings.
An early breakaway involving over 30 riders marked the beginning of the stage, as they ascended towards the ski resort of Superdevoluy under sunny skies. Biniam Girmay maintained his position as the green jersey holder for the best sprinter, amassing 387 points compared to Jasper Philipsen’s 354.
Stage 18, scheduled for Thursday, promises to be a visually stunning affair, featuring picturesque lakes and mountains in Haute Provence. The 179km ride from Gap to Barcelonnette presents an opportunity for one-day specialists to shine.
