Richard Carapaz claimed victory on the Tour de France's punishing Queen stage, while Tadej Pogacar all but secured a historic fifth title in the same breath. The Ecuadorian's triumph on Alpe d'Huez capped a dramatic day that saw a contender's hopes shattered by a double crash. Main Developments Carapaz won the 170.9km stage from Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez, his second victory in three days. The win also secured him the King of the Mountains polkadot jersey, as he finished eighth overall. Pogacar crossed the line fourth, arm-in-arm with teammate Isaac Del Toro, who locked in third place overall and the best young rider's white jersey. The Slovenian now leads Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel by 6 minutes and 26 seconds heading into Sunday's final stage. Read also: Asian Games Cricket Draw Grants India, Pakistan Direct Knockout Entry Evenepoel finished second in the stage, clawing back about 40 seconds in the general classification, with American Sepp Kuss in third. Kuss had been leading Carapaz by 15–20 seconds before crashing twice in the final 7km. Background Pogacar, 27, is on the verge of joining cycling legends Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain as the only riders to win the Tour de France five times. He would be the youngest to achieve the feat. The stage was dubbed the Queen stage for its brutality, featuring four monstrous climbs: Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, and the final ascent to Alpe d'Huez. Carapaz started the day foraging for mountain points and took maximum points atop the first three climbs as part of a five-man breakaway. Kuss's Visma-Lease a Bike team had already lost leader Jonas Vingegaard to a crash the previous week, leaving the American as their best hope for a stage win. Why It Matters Pogacar's fifth title cements his place among the sport's all-time greats at just 27, reshaping the hierarchy of modern cycling. His dominance raises questions about whether any rival can challenge him in future editions, especially given the depth of his UAE Emirates team. Carapaz's double stage win and polkadot jersey underline Ecuador's growing presence in Grand Tour racing. For Kuss, the crash on a dangerous descent—where safety netting saved him from a ravine fall—reignites debates about rider safety on mountain stages. What's Next The 21st and final stage on Sunday is a traditional procession into Paris, where Pogacar will need only to finish to secure the yellow jersey. All eyes will be on the Champs-Élysées for the coronation and the likely sprint finish. For Kuss, the focus shifts to recovery and what could have been, while Carapaz will celebrate a polkadot jersey that caps a dream Tour. The 19-year-old French ace Paul Seixas, who finished fourth overall in his Grand Tour debut, will look to build on that promise in future races.