After a scintillating race over Montmartre and onto the Champs-Élysées, Max Walker, Sean Quinn, Ben Healy, Kasper Asgreen, Michael Valgren, Georg Steinhauser, Alex Baudin, and Richard Carapaz hugged, high-fived, and toasted their success by the finish line, before Richie was awarded the polka dot jersey as King of the Mountains under the Arc de Triomphe. Richie also won the Supercombativity prize for attacking the 2026 Tour in EF Pro Cycling style.

Richie's stage wins in Orcières-Merlette on Stage 18 and Alpe d'Huez on Stage 20 were vintage EF Pro Cycling victories. They took creativity and guts and massive efforts from the whole squad. Our riders rallied together in Barcelona and took the race to the peloton together every chance they got. Alex Baudin's attacks early in the race earned him three days in the maillot à pois. Sean Quinn came within a few seconds of wearing the yellow jersey. Michael Valgren, Kasper Asgreen, and Max Walker went on the offensive time and time again and did heaps of essential, unsung work in the peloton. Georg Steinhauser and Ben Healy made race-defining efforts for Richie in the mountains.

Our sports directors, Charly Wegelius, Andreas Klier, and Tom Southam, are very proud of the way our squad rode at this Tour de France. Their efforts in the race Cadillacs deserve special mention, too. Tour after Tour, our squads punch above their weight, earning prizes and fans' hearts with our courageous racing style. Stage wins and King of the Mountains victories like Richie's are the result of months of research and preparation with our performance staff, and then calm, cool decision-making from the car in the heat of the action. Our success is theirs.

It's yours, too. Thank you for cheering for Les Roses during this Tour de France.

Now, it is time to cheer on EF Education-Oatly at the Tour de France Femmes!

"To be honest, it has been very tough and, at the same time, very interesting. It turned out a bit different from what we planned because we came in with a very clear idea, but in the end, it worked out perfectly. I knew I couldn't go fighting for the general classification for many reasons, but I came with just the right preparation to try to win stages and fight for the King of the Mountains jersey. We set off with that mindset in Barcelona, just as we had discussed beforehand. Being on the podium in Paris is incredible because we accomplished all our goals. I'm very happy. Tired, obviously, I'm dead! But the feeling is very good. In the end, being able to enjoy this brief moment is something that will be memorable 20 years from now.

"During the first week, we were under a lot of pressure, and the atmosphere was a bit stressful. Obviously, nobody knew how I was feeling after so much time without racing since Switzerland. But we came here with a very competitive team and people with a lot of experience, like Valgren and Asgreen, who have ridden grand tours. Their experience is very comforting because they project so much confidence within the peloton; when they have to do their job, they do it exceptionally well. Ben was a fundamental part of the team and one of those who fought the hardest in this Tour. Alex, Max, and Sean also knew what they were here for; they had clear objectives and contributed a lot. Georg had a hard Tour due to illness almost every day; I think that was the worst part. Last week was the best one for the team because we knew it was the one we liked the most. For me, it was thrilling: winning two stages, being in the breakaways, fighting for the King of the Mountains jersey. We were all deeply committed. The first day, when I won the Orcières-Merlette stage, everyone was fully involved. It's a beautiful thing that spreads. We all come from different cultures, but this energy is contagious within the group, and it's great.

"For me, it was yesterday. This whole last week has been incredible, honestly. Yesterday I was at a point where even I couldn't believe it because it was so unlikely. It's a very beautiful memory because of how I rode. At the beginning, I knew I had to go after the points, but when we crossed the Galibier, I switched mindsets and told myself: 'Forget it, I'm going for the stage because I think we can do it.' When the climb started, I stayed very calm, knowing the pace I needed to hold. I suffered tremendously, truly, tremendously! But it was worth it.

"My career hasn't been easy at all. Ever since I started cycling, it's always been very complicated and difficult, but I've managed to navigate through those moments in my own way. Yesterday, Richard Carapaz was in his element. I didn't come to Europe early either; I came very late, when I was already 26 years old. It's not that I'm an old rider in the professional realm, but all those circumstances have helped me because every opportunity I've had, I've seized it to make the absolute most of it. I have this mindset that when I see a target, I know I have to go after it, and it 'clicks.' Sometimes, even I don't fully understand it, but when I'm in the race, I can say I become someone else. I can think, design my tactics, make the effort, suffer. With the crowd everywhere and the radio speaking into your ear, these are emotions I've learned to manage. With age, you learn many things, and it has been a huge thrill on this Tour.

"The message is to never give up. Despite the criticism or whatever people say, if you believe in yourself, you are capable of anything. That applies not only to young people, but to everyone: if you believe in what you have, you can achieve it. It's the best lesson of my sporting career. Many people know where I came from and see where I am now. So that's it: never give up." – Richard Carapaz

"It went by super fast, but I'm happy to be done with the Tour de France. It was a really hard Tour, but it was also a successful one for the team. It was tough, but a great experience.

"It's crazy how fast the three weeks pass. Your days just disappear. The longest part of the day is when you're suffering on the bike, but everything else goes by so quickly.

"I'm really proud of the way I raced this Tour. Last year was my first Tour de France, and it was mostly about surviving in the bunch. I still enjoyed it, but it was incredibly hard.

"This year I came in with better form and more experience. I was able to really race – to be at the front, spend a lot of time in breakaways, and actually influence the race. It's so much more enjoyable when you're racing for something instead of just surviving.

"I'm also really happy and proud of the way the whole team raced. I think we did an amazing job. That actually started back at Sierra Nevada this year. It's probably true that I've spent more time with these guys than with my girlfriend this year, so you naturally build a close group. We had a great time together in Sierra Nevada, then again at the Dauphiné, and by the time we got to the Tour we already had a really strong bond.

"Even when things didn't work out during the first two weeks, nobody gave up. We just kept trying and kept believing. I think that's the spirit that kept everyone motivated until the very end and eventually helped Richie win those stages.

"We had such a great time together, and honestly that's probably another reason the Tour went by so fast.

"The moment that really stands out was hearing on the race radio that Richie had won. You just felt this huge sense of relief and happiness – 'Yes, finally!'

"It wasn't just for the riders. You immediately think about everyone behind the scenes as well. The whole team deserved that moment, and sharing it together was really special." – Alex Baudin

"It was a tough Tour. Especially the last few days – they've been really hard. But with the way the team, and especially Richie, has been riding, it's been super fun to be a part of, even if it's been hard.

"My favorite memory is definitely Richie's first stage win. That was a huge team effort, and it felt really special because I felt like I was a part of it and had contributed to the result.

"Yesterday's win was incredible, too, but the big climb came so early that I wasn't really involved by that point. It's always more rewarding when you've been able to play a role in the outcome.

"You learn things about yourself throughout every season and every race. I can't point to one specific lesson from this Tour, but you definitely keep learning as the years go by.

"Thinking all the way back to Barcelona feels like a long time ago now, but I think I'm most proud of the team time trial. I was riding really well that day, and we had a few guys who were maybe struggling a little bit, so I was able to step up and take on a bigger workload. It wasn't quite the result we had hoped for, but considering everything, I think we still put together a solid performance.

"I think a big part of what we did here was that we were racing to win almost every single day. That makes a huge difference because you feel like you're really part of the race. It took us a long time before we finally got that first victory, but I think everyone – riders and staff alike – felt that we were getting close over and over again. That feeling keeps you motivated. You keep believing that if you can just get those last little details right, it's going to happen.

"I think that's what carried us through the race. It gave everyone belief, and in the end, that was the magic we needed to achieve what we did in the final week." – Kasper Asgreen

"It's been a lot of work to get this far through the race, so I'm just really happy to make it to Paris.

"I think my favorite memory was seeing my family here and seeing how much they were enjoying it all. I could tell how proud they were, and that made it extra special for me. Having them here to experience it with me is probably what I'll remember most.

"One moment that stands out was the stage where I pulled on the flat in the valley before the final climb, just before Ben and Richie went on to win the stage. That was one of the toughest efforts I've ever done, and I was pretty proud of that.

"Yesterday was also really tough. I was struggling just to get through the stage, but I kept telling myself to hang on because eventually I'd make it to the finish. Crossing the line last night and knowing I'd made it to Paris felt really good.

"What surprised me was how well my body coped with such a long race. Before this, the longest stage race I'd done was eight days, so I thought once we got to day 12 or 13 I'd be completely exhausted. After the rest day I was definitely tired, but I still felt pretty good.

"The biggest surprise, though, was just the level of the racing. I thought some of the sprint stages would be a bit easier, but they're actually some of the hardest and scariest days because everyone is fighting for position. That really showed me the level of the riders here. They're the best riders and the best teams in the world, so every day is incredibly hard.

"We had such a good group of guys that the three weeks went by really quickly. We all had a great time together, and I think that's what made the experience so special. I just tried to do the best job I could for the team every day. Once I was dropped, I'd ride as efficiently as I could to get to the finish, and I think that really helped me save energy over the full 21 stages.

"The other big lesson was just to sleep as much as possible. Luckily, that's not something I struggle with! I was probably getting 10 or 11 hours of sleep every night, and that definitely helped me recover throughout the race." – Max Walker

"The last couple of days have been emotional. I wouldn't say it's been a roller coaster, but I've really been trying the last few days, and then after Richie's performances and what the team achieved, I was just so pumped. Yesterday I had a really hard day on the bike. Tom was in the car motivating me the whole day, asking if I was going to make it to Paris. So it's really nice to finally be here. Nine Tours – it still means a lot every time.

"I think this has been my best Tour personally. I was riding at a really high level, and as a team we raced incredibly well. You can see the results in the last week. We really put the hammer down. Obviously Richie had amazing legs and delivered two incredible stage wins and the King of the Mountains jersey, but I think everything started back in Barcelona. Our goal was simply to race as a team and do our absolute best every single day. That's exactly what we did, and now we get to celebrate.

"We genuinely had fun together throughout the whole race. I was only grumpy for one stage, which is probably a personal record! That's what makes this team special. We're not just coworkers – we're buddies. I think that makes a huge difference.

"Coming here after riding the Giro isn't easy, and being competitive at the Tour de France is another level. Everything is bigger, everything is faster. If you don't have great form, you're never going to be seen on TV. I was in four or five breakaways simply because I had the legs. That's probably what I'm most proud of. This year I was there. I was in the race, and I'm proud of that.

"I was talking to Georg during his first Tour because he'd been suffering a bit. I just told him to keep believing, because everything can change in a single day. The very next day he was absolutely flying, and then we had that stage where Georg was in the break with Richie and Ben. I think that's the biggest lesson. Trust your own process. Trust the work you've done. Trust the people around you. And most importantly, never give up." – Michael Valgren

"I'm super excited to be here and to arrive in Paris. It's pretty special that all eight of us made it here. We had an amazing three weeks together. For me personally, it was a really tough Tour, but being here with this team and these guys made it an incredible experience. It's something I'll never forget for the rest of my life – my first Tour de France. It was amazing.

"One of my favorite memories was the stage to Le Markstein, where my friends and family were standing by the side of the road. That was really special. I also remember the first time I was pulling on the front for Ben and Richie. My family and friends were standing there cheering me on while I was doing my job for the team. That was a really special feeling.

"Right from the start, nobody ever tried to avoid doing the work. Even when it was the dirty jobs that maybe nobody notices, everyone was happy to do them. In the end, I think that paid off – with Richie winning two stages and taking home the King of the Mountains jersey. If you really look closely, there are hundreds of kilometers of work done by the guys before the final 50 kilometers, when most people turn on the TV. That's where so much of the race is won.

"Honestly, I'm just proud that I made it to Paris. For me, it was a really tough Tour. I never really felt like myself. I had stomach problems during the first week, got a bit sick in the final week, and I remember on Wednesday I had a terrible day on the bike. I was honestly thinking, 'What the hell am I doing here?' I was suffering all day. In the end, I'm just really happy that I made it all the way to Paris and that I never gave up. The crowds were just unbelievable. The atmosphere on the roadside is something you can only really experience at the Tour de France. I'm just so happy that I got to experience it and cross it off my bucket list." – Georg Steinhauser

"I am pretty proud of this one. We had an amazing group of guys this year, and I'm really proud of how we committed to the process of trying to win and doing it the right way. Maybe the other guys feel differently, but I honestly don't think we spent much time thinking about results. We just focused on doing everything right every day, and it was really cool to see that pay off in the last week.

"Even the first hotel in Barcelona, right on the beach – I just remember being really happy to be there with this group of people. From there all the way through to Richie spraying Champagne after his win, and then Alpe d'Huez. I'll remember those switchbacks on Alpe d'Huez for the rest of my life. There are just so many memories, but more than anything, it's the whole experience and the people that will stick with me.

"I'm a huge believer that even though cycling is theoretically an individual sport, it takes a team to win. You have to sacrifice a lot for each other, and it's a lot easier to make those sacrifices for one of your close friends than it is for someone who's just a coworker.

"Ben, Georg, and I joined the team together five years ago now. We've been through so much together – from incredible highs at the Tour to some really tough days at small races in France. Growing up together in the sport has been a really cool experience.

"Then you have someone like Michael Valgren. I watched him race when I was growing up, and the more I've gotten to know him, the more I've realized what an incredible person and father he is. The way he lives his life is really inspiring. Honestly, I could go down the list and talk about everyone. It all starts around the dinner table, and I think that translates onto the bike more than any sports director or any fan realizes. As riders, I think the atmosphere of the group matters more than people understand.

"You can look at the physical performance, and I wasn't exceptional by any means. But like I said, I'm proud of committing to the process every single day. Whether I was riding for the team or for myself, I gave everything I had within my control. I didn't knock it out of the park every day, but I'm proud of the work I did to help Richie and the team. I feel like I put in some really solid rides for them.

"At the end of the day, all you can do is give your best. There have been races in the past where I felt like I didn't get the best out of myself, but here I can honestly say that every time the team asked something of me, I gave everything I had. That's all I can ask of myself." – Sean Quinn

"It was a pretty long, hard three weeks, but nice. It's my first grand tour with all eight riders still on the bus, so it's nice we'll be able to celebrate together. It's been a successful one, and just a good, good, fun three weeks.

"It's been a bit of a rough year for me. I had a bit of sickness after the Dauphiné, which I think affected me more than I thought. But to turn it around and still be there in the last week, helping the boys, and ultimately helping get a couple of stage wins for Richie as well, is super good. I am just happy I could do it.

"Richie's win was definitely one of my favorite memories. It was just the pure relief for everyone – moments like that are so good.

"It was nice to be on the other side, trying to put the other guys under pressure. It was just nice to be there and be able to help Richie.

"We had this never-give-up, always-fighting attitude. We all believed, stayed positive, kept working hard – and I think the last couple of days have shown what that can achieve. You've just got to keep pushing and keep fighting. It's been great to work with everyone, and ultimately it worked out in the end." – Ben Healy

"If TV analysts want to find out why we were successful as a team, they can easily point to the pulls Ben did and the things they saw on TV. But the truth is probably somewhere else. A guy like Max, for example, spent 10 days in 40-degree heat going backwards and forwards with bidons – two bags at a time, 6 kilograms of bidons. Nobody saw it. But if you get to the last days of the race and everybody's full of energy and able to give their best, it's because of things like that. And you can trace those things back even months – people who weren't even at the race, doing work away from it. There's a lot people saw on TV, but a lot they didn't. And it's those tiny little things, done really well, that make something like this.

"It's to do with the people we've got, and with keeping the message going – nobody getting distracted. I always like to say to the riders that the main priority is to do everything you can do that needs no talent, because there are a lot of things you can do every day that contribute to your success that you don't need talent for. And everybody kept doing that. The staff never got distracted, never got down. The riders didn't get down between themselves – they just kept going every single day, repeating the best possible work we could do, regardless of what was in the rearview mirror.

"It's really good for the riders to constantly have goals to go after. Even when we got to stages we'd previously labelled as zeros, and we started drilling into the details to find even smaller chances, they never wavered, never looked sideways – they just kept going for everything. Having those things to chase fed the hunger in them.

"There are plenty of examples. The day Richie won, Georg – who finished third in Paris-Nice this year and is really on the up – drilled it on the flat before the first climb, not even knowing if he'd be able to stay in the race after doing that. He didn't hesitate. Ben's here after a great Tour last year, with a lot of attention on him, and in the last days, when we were talking about constructing things for Richie, he was one of the voices on the bus reinforcing to all of us how we needed to do it and why. He was fully behind it, and he laid it down for Richie on several occasions. That's what we mean when we say team first.

"I think we're one of the best teams in the world at doing our thing, when we've got the space to do it. The calendar's so full – so many races, so many demands – that compared to other teams, maybe we can't recreate it constantly throughout the year. But when we have the space and time to put the best we can out there, I think we're one of the best in the world. You see that here.

"This year's Tour started in October, basically, when they gave the route. Then there's a whole machine working in the background – a lot of people here, but also people who never come to the race, who've worked on nutrition, on material choices, with our partners to get the riders the best kit. They never show up on TV. There's a massive logistical operation. So much work goes into it, and the result is a kind of focused view of what happens. But there are late nights, early mornings, long days – people cleaning cars, people doing logistics plans. It's a whole thing.

"This is a sport where you spend the vast majority of your time losing, even in a successful team. Most of the time you lose. Most of the time the things you want to happen don't happen, or can't happen. So those moments where everything comes together, and everybody does what you'd hope they'd do, are rare – and to be able to do it in the biggest race of the year is super special. And I'm not alone: most of us here spend an awful lot of time away from our families doing this. For it to come together, and for all the losing and the failed plans to be put aside for a few days and really capitalized on – that's pretty sweet." – Charly Wegelius, sports director

The 2026 Tour de France included 53,950 vertical meters of climbing over 3,320.7 kilometers and 21 stages. The race crossed the Alps, Pyrenees, Vosges, Massif Central, and Jura with 77 categorized climbs en route. The highest point was the Col du Galibier at 2,642 meters and the longest and hardest climb was the Col de la Croix-de-Fer, both of which Richie crossed on his way to Stage 20 victory on Alpe d'Huez. Richie claimed 156 points in the King of the Mountains competition to win his polka dot jersey and be crowned King of the Mountains at this year's Tour de France.

After celebrating the finish of the 2026 Tour de France on the Champs-Élysées, the squad raced to Cadillac Paris for our post-Tour party. Friends, family, partners, and special EF Adventures guests toasted EF Education-EasyPost's Tour de France success long into the night, before wandering into the City of Lights for after-parties.

The Tour ends in Paris for Owen and Chris, too. Since there is no racing tomorrow, so no rice to need to cook, soigneur SoSo gave our chefs a very well-deserved night off and put in a massive order from the Five Guys near the Champs-Élysées. Double cheeseburgers and fries fueled our squad for Stage 22.

Paris got its name from the Parisii, a Celtic Gaulish tribe who lived on the Seine around the third century B.C. The Romans called their settlement Lutetia Parisiorum, the marsh of the Parisii. For millennia, Parisians preferred to think that their glorious city was named after Paris of Troy, the beautiful Trojan prince immortalized in the Iliad. The truth of the matter is muddier.