Carapaz wins Tour de France stage 18 with solo breakaway as Pogacar keeps yellow amid team illness

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) tore clear of the breakaway on the final climb to Orcières-Merlette to claim stage 18 of the Tour de France, his second career win in the race. The Ecuadorian attacked twice inside the last 4 km, dropping Swiss rider Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) and American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) to cross the line 45 seconds ahead. Overall leader Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates XRG) finished safely over four minutes later with main rival Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), preserving his 4:32 lead. But Pogacar’s team was rocked by illness: American domestique Brandon McNulty abandoned mid-stage with a throat infection, while Adam Yates continues to recover from a stomach bug and other teammates struggle.

Carapaz’s decisive late attack

The 185.2 km stage from Voiron covered 42.5 km in the first hour as riders attacked early on the Côte d’Engins, a Category 1 climb. A six-man breakaway formed, including Carapaz, Schmid, Jorgenson, Valentin Paret-Peintre, and others. Mads Pedersen (Denmark) expanded his green jersey lead to 32 points by winning the intermediate sprint before dropping back. With 21 km to go, McNulty abandoned, thinning the already weakened UAE ranks. On the final 7.1 km ascent to Orcières-Merlette, averaging 6.7% gradient, Carapaz launched his first attack 4 km from the summit; it was neutralised. He attacked again 500 m later and this time no one could follow. He patted his head as he approached the line, 45 seconds clear of Schmid and Jorgenson. The peloton, containing Pogacar and Evenepoel, came in 4:35 behind.

Carapaz, a former Giro d’Italia winner and Olympic road race champion, dedicated the win to his late mother, who died earlier this year.

It’s been a special day. For me to come back here on the Tour has been something that cost us a lot. This is a very beautiful stage that I dedicate to my family. I think that’s what I’m most grateful for — to know the work I do can be compensated with all of this.

The win was his ninth Grand Tour stage victory and his first since stage 11 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia.

Overall standings unchanged

Pogacar retained the yellow jersey with a margin of 4:32 over Evenepoel, the two-time stage winner at this year’s race. His UAE teammate Isaac Del Toro (Mexico) sits third at 6:51, followed by Frenchman Paul Seixas in fourth. Pogacar, chasing a third consecutive Tour title and fifth overall, called the third week a test of endurance.

Sickness in UAE camp

Since Monday’s rest day, several UAE Emirates XRG riders have been unwell. McNulty quit with 21 km remaining because of throat pain, headache, and congestion; his sports director, Joxean Fernández “Matxín”, said he had no fever and tested negative for Covid-19 and flu but could barely continue. A day earlier, Yates finished more than 26 minutes back after vomiting on the road. Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch also laboured during the stage.

I’m sad that Brandon could not finish. We will see in the next two days but Adam is getting better, and tomorrow, we will go with the flow. I think we can manage. It’s the third week, all the teams are suffering. There are bodies everywhere, on a stage like today. We will keep fighting and I believe we can do it.

Pogacar’s decision to swap his habitual yellow shorts for black shorts on Thursday drew attention, although no link to any illness was confirmed.

Alpe d’Huez double ahead

Friday’s stage 19 ends with an HC climb to L’Alpe d’Huez, one of cycling’s most iconic ascents. Saturday’s penultimate stage is even tougher: it features three HC climbs (Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier, Col de Sarenne) plus a Category 1 climb up Col du Télégraphe, before a hilltop finish again at L’Alpe d’Huez. The race concludes Sunday on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Pogacar said the team would take the next two days as they come and “see what we can do.”