Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) has been named the most aggressive, or 'super combatif', rider of this year's Tour de France, and was awarded the prize after a public vote and jury decision from 11 shortlisted riders.
It's the second time the Ecuadorian has won the award, adding to his 2024 win, lighting up the final week and the last three mountain stages with swashbuckling attacks that landed him two stage wins and the King of the Mountains polka-dot jersey.
EF Education-EasyPost have also now won the prize three Tours in a row, with Irishman Ben Healy winning it last year. It's a testament to how the team rides during the Tour, and without Carapaz, much of the excitement to Orcières-Merlette and the Alpe d'Huez doubleheader would have been dampened.
The Ecuadorian didn't receive the most votes from the public vote, though, which was conducted via reposts on Le Tour's official X profile. Instead, green jersey Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) gained the most, with over 4,000, Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarché) gained the second most, and Carapaz received the third highest total, with 3,100.
The other eight riders shortlisted for the combativity prize were Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies), Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), Egan Bernal (Netcompany Ineos), Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep), Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla), and Pablo Castrillo (Movistar).
The former Giro d'Italia and Olympic road race champion will be presented twice on the podium at the finish of today's 21st stage in Paris thanks to his achievements, and will finish in the top 10 overall in eighth on GC.
💪 🇪🇨 Richard Carapaz has been named the #TDF2026 Most Combative Rider. After combining the public vote with the jury’s individual votes, the Ecuadorian has been named, just as in 2024, the Tour de France’s Most Combative Rider with @century21fr!💪 🇪🇨 Richard Carapaz est élu… pic.twitter.com/40mjXAQjQqJuly 26, 2026
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