RICHARD CARAPAZ, the reigning Olympic road race champion, triumphed in stage 17 of the Tour de France at Superdevoluy this afternoon.

Carapaz achieved this victory by overtaking and leaving behind British rider Simon Yates on the day’s most challenging ascent, the Col du Noyer.

The Ecuadorian cyclist, who briefly donned the yellow jersey during the first week of the Tour, caught up to Yates 15 kilometres from the finish line. Prior to this, he had outpaced Welshman Stephen Williams on the lower slopes of the mountain before launching another successful attack.