Richard Carapaz secures Stage 18 win as Tour de France climbs the French Alps

Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz (EF Education‑EasyPost) won Stage 18 of the 2026 Tour de France, soloing on the final climb to Orcières‑Merlette after a decisive attack on the last four kilometres. The 185.2 km route ran from Voiron to the summit finish, and Carapaz finished 45 seconds ahead of Swiss rider Mauro Schmid (second) and American Matteo Jorgenson (third).

General‑classification leader Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) retained the yellow jersey, holding a four‑minute lead over Remco Evenepoel and a six‑minute gap to Mexican Isaac del Toro, who remains in the white‑jersey position as the best young rider.

UAE Team Emirates was hit by illness: domestiques Brandon McNulty abandoned on the stage, while Adam Yates and Tim Wellens also reported health problems, weakening the squad’s support for Pogacar in the upcoming Alpine stages.