Pedersen Takes Green As Carapaz Is Crowned King Of The Mountains

Mads Pedersen and Richard Carapaz leave the Tour de France as the winners of two classifications built through persistence and aggressive racing. The Dane secured the green points jersey, while the Ecuadorian won the polka-dot mountains jersey and the overall super-combativity award.

Pedersen completed the only Grand Tour points classification missing from his record. He combined his stage victory in Foix with repeated breakaways, intermediate sprints and a remarkable effort in the queen stage. On the Col de la Croix de Fer, he attacked from the group of favourites, reached the front of the race and ensured his advantage could no longer be overturned before Paris.

The Lidl-Trek rider faced pressure from Jasper Philipsen, particularly after the Belgian won stage 17. Pedersen responded in terrain far removed from a traditional sprinter’s comfort zone, using endurance and tactical aggression to protect green across the Alps. He finished the final stage in third place behind Mathieu van der Poel and Philipsen.

Carapaz transformed his Tour during the final week. After falling out of the battle for the yellow jersey, he redirected his efforts towards breakaways, stage victories and mountain points. He won at Orcières-Merlette and again on the queen stage at Alpe d’Huez, collecting maximum points on the decisive climbs.

His performance gave him the mountains classification ahead of Pogačar and also lifted him to eighth overall. The race jury rewarded his constant attacking with the super-combativity prize, recognising a Tour defined by his presence at the front.

Green and polka dots therefore went to two riders who refused to race defensively. Pedersen survived the mountains through power and determination; Carapaz rebuilt his Tour by attacking them. Both will remember Paris as the reward for three weeks of ambition.