Richard Carapaz completed the Grand Tour hattrick by taking victory on stage 17 of the Tour de France at Superdévoluy.
Carapaz, the reigning Olympic champion, also became the first Ecuadorian rider to win a stage of the French Grand Tour after outgunning Simon Yates (Jayco-AIUla) on the climb of the Col du Noyer in the southern French Alps.
Yates was the first man to bridge across to the remnants of the day’s breakaway on the medium mountain stage, attacking on the lower slopes of the Noyer before eventually bridging across to the lead group. Carapaz attempted to follow along with Stevie Williams (Israel-Premier Tech).
Eventually Carapaz dispatched Williams and soon made his way across to Yates at the head of the race. The EF Education-EasyPost rider then launched a stinging acceleration which soon distanced Yates. Carapaz threw his bike into every corner on the descent as he went in search of victory.
The former winner of the Giro d’Italia didn’t look back and eventually rode to his first ever Tour stage win.
More to follow…