Tour de France 2026: Carapaz shifts to stage wins, Vingegaard eyes overall victory

Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz said his goal for the 2026 Tour de France has changed. Facing Tadej Pogacar’s dominance and limited support from EF Education‑EasyPost, Carapaz will aim for stage victories and the mountain classification rather than the general‑overall lead. He noted the need for a fully backed team and described the opening 19.7 km team time trial in Barcelona as a key early test.

Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, a two‑time Tour winner, entered the season with a reduced race program, winning the Giro d’Italia and targeting peak form for July’s Tour start. He emphasized his refreshed preparation, limited race days and confidence in challenging Pogacar, whom he calls the sport’s top rival. Vingegaard believes his recent successes position him to contend for the yellow jersey in France.