Richard Calapaz made history on stage 3 of the Tour de France, becoming the first Ecuadorian rider to wear the yellow jersey in a French Grand Tour.

EF Education-Easy Post's Richard Calapaz finished with perfect teamwork and positioning, despite being affected by the crash that occurred in Turin. In a lead group of about 60 riders who avoided the crash with 2.2 km to go, he finished 14th behind sprint winner Biniam Guillemay (Intermarché Wanty).

Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma Lease-a-Bike), Remco Evenpole (Soudal-Quickstep), and Karapas started stage 3 in the same time.

Kalapas needed to pull away from Pogachar by 14 places to win the yellow. The Slovenian finished 38th, while Evenpole was well down in 40th, and Vingegaard finished 68th.

"It's a surprise for us. We thought it would be difficult, but I felt good today and I think it was worth the risk. But I felt good today and I think it was worth the risk. The team did an unbelievable job until the end. I'm really happy," Karapas said after putting on the yellow jersey.

"Taking the yellow jersey was the goal we set in the team meeting this morning and on the bus. We knew it would be a dangerous day because the first sprint in the Tour de France is nervous and tricky.

"The team rode really well. For example, Alberto Bettiol was there and made a great pull with 3km to go. Then Marline van den Berg sprinted alongside me and protected me. It was a great team effort."

Gil May made history as the first black African to win the Tour de France, a huge moment for Calapaz and Ecuador.

Calapaz will win the 2019 Giro d'Italia and will now have worn the leader's jersey in all three Grand Tours."

"It's a dream for me to wear yellow in the best race in the world because of the respect I have for the Tour," he said.

"This success means a lot to me. I've worked a lot to get to this point. It's a big moment for Ecuador. There aren't many players on the World Tour."

Calapaz and EF Education-Easy Post lowered their ambitions for the Tour de France after a fall with teammate Alberto Betior, which left him with five stitches in a mouth wound, and a stage win. Now they have the yellow jersey and a new game plan.

"After Switzerland, we did a preliminary run and it wasn't as consistent as we wanted it to be. We had to stop for a few days," Kalapas explained.

"The Tour de France is difficult if you are not in perfect shape. But the previous months had been good enough that I thought I could still be in good shape. I rode well on Sunday and my confidence has grown. From here I'll take it one day at a time."

Calapaz, Pogachar, Evenpole, and Vingegård are all on the same time, with Primoš Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) 21 seconds behind them.

The fourth stage, from Pinerolo south of Turin to Valloire in the French Alps, is short at 139.6 km, but climbs to Sestriere, crosses the Col de Montgenèvre, and descends 20 km to the finish via the 2,642 m-high Galibier Pass.

EF Education-Easy Post will control the attack, while Calapas must aim to finish with his big GC rivals.

"Of course, we will try our best and do our best for the yellow jersey. If that is not possible, then I will do my best amongst the humans."

"Tomorrow will be a big day. It will be a complicated day. I'm going to give it my all. I'm going to enjoy every moment of wearing the yellow jersey."

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