Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz claimed victory in the 18th stage of the 2026 Tour de France, a 115-mile mountain route from Voiron to Orcières-Merlette, on Thursday. Carapaz completed the stage in 4 hours, 26 minutes, and 21 seconds, crossing the finish line 45 seconds ahead of Swiss cyclist Mauro Schmid, with American Matteo Jorgenson finishing third.
The stage featured a decisive final climb where a breakaway group of six riders initially contended for the win. Matteo Jorgenson launched multiple attacks in the closing kilometers, but each was neutralized by Carapaz, who ultimately launched a powerful move with about 3.5 kilometers remaining to break clear of his rivals. Despite efforts from Valentin Paret-Peintre, who stayed close but eventually lost over a minute to Carapaz, the Ecuadorian maintained a commanding lead to secure the stage victory.
At 33 years old, Carapaz added his ninth grand tour stage win to an accomplished career that includes the 2019 Giro d’Italia title and the 2021 Olympic road race gold medal. His triumph on this demanding mountain stage marked a significant moment for his team, Education First-EasyPost, which had consistently been visible in breakaways throughout the Tour but had yet to secure a stage win. Carapaz’s victory was also notable for its personal significance, coming in a challenging year marked by the recent passing of his 73-year-old mother, Ana Luisa Montenegro.
The leading riders in the overall general classification remained unchanged after the stage. Defending two-time champion Tadej Pogacar of UAE Emirates-XRG continues to hold a strong lead, with a cumulative time of 64 hours, 35 minutes, and 13 seconds. Belgian Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe sits second, 4 minutes and 32 seconds behind Pogacar, followed by Mexican rider Isaac Del Toro Romero in third place.
Pogacar’s team faced difficulties as a stomach illness affected several riders, including Brandon McNulty, who was forced to abandon the race after struggling alone for 50 kilometers. Teammates Adam Yates and Tim Wellens were also impacted and unable to assist in the usual manner. Although Pogacar appeared somewhat pale during the post-stage press conference and limited his responses to three questions, he expressed confidence ahead of the upcoming challenging mountain stages at Alpe d’Huez.
Aside from Carapaz’s win, Danish rider Mads Pedersen delivered a notable performance by securing maximum points in the intermediate sprint, consolidating his hold on the Green Jersey as the competition moves toward its final stages. The Tour will continue with two more arduous mountain stages on Friday and Saturday before concluding with a flat route into Paris on Sunday.