Carapaz: “The podium will no longer change in the time trial” | cycling

It was a remarkably strong Ineos Grenadiers that set the pace in the last kilometers on the Tourmalet and the first kilometers of the final climb to Luz Ardiden. It seemed like a stepping stone to an attack by Richard Carapaz, but in the end it never came.

Just like yesterday on the Col du Portet, the Ecuadorian had to settle for third place, behind Pogacar and Vingegaard. “I am very satisfied after the incredible efforts of the team. We wanted to win the stage and we did everything for it.”

“I competed until the end and that’s positive. Our rivals were stronger and we are all in all happy with the result. We had to go for it, because we had nothing to lose.”

Carapaz was therefore unable to take a stage win, but the chance that he will be the first Ecuadorian ever on the Tour podium in Paris on Sunday is increasing.

Carapaz is third at just 6 seconds from Vingegaard, but the Dane is normally a better time trialist than the Ineos leader. Ben O’Connor is already 2’27” behind Carapaz as number 4 in the standings.

There is still a time trial on the menu on Saturday, but Carapaz suspects that the top three will remain unchanged. “A lot can still happen in the next few days, but I think that the stage is almost set. It’s nice to be in third place. In a time trial from 30 kilometers the podium will normally not change anymore.”

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) did not crack in the last mountain stage. Just like yesterday on the Col du Portet, he only had to tolerate Pogacar. “It was not my best day. It was mostly perseverance, mentally too. so i’m whole
satisfied with my performance.”

Without accidents, the Danish Tour debutant will be on the podium in Paris on Sunday. “It is unbelievable that after the last mountain stage I am second in the general classification. I could never have dreamed of this. I started the Tour as a servant for Roglic.”

“I also have to thank the team. Sepp (Kuss), Wout (van Aert) and Mike (Teunissen) did a fantastic job. It now looks good for the podium in Paris, but we have seen that earlier in this Tour always there
anything else could happen.”