'We gambled it all on the third week' - Richard Carapaz fights back from tough summer of recovery to claim maximum climbing honours at Tour de France

Richard Carapaz hoists the best climber's trophy after stage 20 and will wear the polka dot jersey on the final day into Paris.

Looking at the way Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) managed to clinch first, third and then first again on the 2026 Tour de France's three Alpine stages, it's hard to believe that earlier this summer the 33-year-old was battling so hard against the after-effects of a major operation, needing to spend three weeks off the bike.

But at the same time, that was what laid the foundation for Carapaz to succeed in such dramatic fashion this July.