Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz secured victory on Stage 18 of the Tour de France on July 23, 2026, with a sharp attack on the final summit finish at Orcieres-Merlette.
The 185-kilometer Alpine route from Voiron saw relentless attacks from the start, leaving riders scattered across the terrain.
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Carapaz crossed the finish line ahead of Matteo Jorgenson and Schmid, moving into the top ten of the overall general classification.
Race leader Tadej Pogacar maintained his yellow jersey position, finishing safely alongside his main rivals roughly 4.5 minutes behind the winner.
Team Health Issues
Tim Wellens, a key teammate for Pogacar, endured severe physical distress due to illness that has affected several riders within UAE Team Emirates.
Brandon McNulty was forced to abandon the race entirely, weakening Pogacar's support system ahead of upcoming high-altitude summits.
Pogacar expressed optimism regarding Adam Yates's condition, hoping he will be stronger for the crucial stages ahead.
"We knew that the breakaway riders would go wild from the start," said Pogacar.
"In the end, the top ten riders were also a bit worried about their positions, which is why we still went full throttle."
Reactions from Riders
Matteo Jorgenson, who finished third on the summit, acknowledged Carapaz's strength. "But Carapaz was much stronger," said Jorgenson, calling it his best stage of the tour so far.
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Thymen Arensman, who spent time in the early breakaway before fading, admitted feeling heavy physical fatigue from competing earlier in the season, including the Giro d'Italia.
