Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz secured a solo victory on stage 18 of the Tour de France 2026, navigating the opening Alpine climb to Orcières-Merlette while overall leader Tadej Pogacar maintained his yellow jersey amid team illness.
The 185.2km mountainous test from Voiron marked the beginning of three gruelling days in the French Alps for the peloton.
Carapaz Claims Alpine Stage Victory
His late surge on the final ascent left Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid of Jayco-Alula trailing by 45 seconds, with Matteo Jorgenson of Visma-Lease a Bike taking third place.
The result not only salvaged Carapaz’s campaign but also provided a much-needed boost for his team after a challenging Tour. Several riders formed a number of breakaways on a hot day on the road, but Carapaz’s combative riding was the best to watch. With his gold chain and giant crucifix swinging from side to side, he danced on the pedals to try to launch himself away from the hard-charging Valentin Paret-Peintre of Soudal Quick Step – who is wearing the King of the Mountains jersey on behalf of KOM leader Pogacar.
The decisive move broke an exhausted group of chasers. When Paret-Peintre avoided helping the pair extend their lead over Jorgenson and Schmid, Carapaz virtually stopped in the steep tarmac, baulking Paret-Peintre, and as the Frenchman then assumed a period of recovery, Carapaz launched again, leaving an exhausted and out-of-rhythm Paret-Peintre broken.
Pogacar Retains Yellow as Sickness Hits UAE Squad
While the stage win went to the breakaway, the general classification remains firmly in the hands of Tadej Pogacar (UAE), who finished safely in the peloton and now leads with a total time of 64 hours, 35 minutes, and 13 seconds. Slovenian Pogacar remains in the yellow jersey by four minutes 32 seconds over Belgium’s Remco Evenepeol of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and six minutes 51 seconds over UAE team-mate Isaac del Toro of Mexico.
Behind the Slovenian leader, Remco Evenepoel sits four minutes and 32 seconds back, followed by Isaac del Toro (UAE), Paul Seixas (Decathlon), and Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) round out the top five. With just two stages remaining before Paris, Pogacar is on the verge of securing his fifth overall victory.
However, the race leader’s team faced internal disruption. Sickness appears to be making its way through overall leader Tadej Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad after key domestique Brandon McNulty abandoned the race mid-stage. The day was marked by a measured pace from the UAE Team Emirates, who controlled the peloton despite internal setbacks. Several riders, including Adam Yates, were affected by a stomach virus, with Yates confirmed as the only member officially ill. The team’s ability to maintain composure under these circumstances was notable, especially as the race entered the high mountains for the first time this year.
Jersey Battles and Historical Echoes
The stage also shifted margins across the secondary classifications. Denmark’s Mads Pedersen extended his lead in the green jersey classification to 32 points, but remains vulnerable to Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen. Meanwhile, Pogacar, 27, retains the King of the Mountain jersey, but only by a point, as does Del Toro in the white young rider’s jersey.
The Thursday’s mountainous 185.2km stage from Voiron to Ocieres Merlette marked the first of three gruelling days in the French Alps. This 18th stage introduced the peloton to the Alps, featuring the demanding ascent to Orcières-Merlette. The climb holds a special place in Tour history, famously remembered for Luis Ocaña’s legendary solo attack in 1971. Recent days have also seen increased anti-doping controls, underscoring the ongoing scrutiny at this decisive point in the race, prompting questions such as: Why are cycling’s anti-doping tests being carried out at night?
Analysis from Marco González, cycling editor at Más Deporte, highlighted the tactical approaches of the main contenders and the impact of illness on team strategies. The stage served as a prelude to the upcoming double challenge at Alpe d’Huez, where the general classification could still see dramatic shifts.
Sources: bbc.co.uk.
