Richard Carapaz wins Tour de France stage 18 solo at Orcières Merlette
Ecuadorian rider attacks from breakaway group 3.5 km from summit finish, securing his second Tour stage victory. Tadej Pogacar retains 4-minute overall lead with three stages remaining.
The stage
The 18th stage of the 113th Tour de France rolled out of Voiron on Thursday, 23 July, covering 185 kilometres to the summit finish at Orcières Merlette. It was the first of three consecutive Alpine stages that will determine the final general classification. With Tadej Pogacar holding a comfortable lead, the peloton was in no mood to chase. An early breakaway of six riders was allowed to build a gap of several minutes. The group included Richard Carapaz, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Matteo Jorgenson, Mauro Schmid, Raul Garcia, and one other rider. They worked well together and entered the final climb with a substantial advantage.
Carapaz's decisive move
Carapaz, the 33-year-old Ecuadorian from EF Education-EasyPost, attacked his breakaway companions with 3.5 kilometres remaining. The Olympic champion from Tokyo accelerated sharply on the steep slopes and quickly opened a gap. None of the other escapees could respond. Carapaz rode solo to the summit, crossing the line 45 seconds ahead of the chasers. The victory marked his second Tour de France stage win, following his success at Superdévoluy in 2024. His attack was perfectly timed, and he celebrated with arms raised as he crossed the line.
- Stage 18 begins in Voiron
- Mads Pedersen wins intermediate sprint at Corps
- Carapaz attacks the breakaway 3.5 km from the finish
- Carapaz crosses the line solo at Orcières Merlette
Top finishers
Swiss rider Mauro Schmid (Jayco Alula) edged out American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) for second place, both finishing 45 seconds behind Carapaz. Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) took fourth, 1 minute and 14 seconds after the winner. The remaining breakaway members trailed in further back, while the peloton arrived several minutes later.
- Richard Carapaz
- 0 seconds
- Mauro Schmid
- 45 seconds
- Matteo Jorgenson
- 45 seconds
- Valentin Paret-Peintre
- 74 seconds
General classification
Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) finished safely in the main bunch, preserving his 4-minute lead in the overall standings. The Slovenian has worn the yellow jersey since the first mountain stages and remains the strong favourite with only three stages left. The podium positions also remained unchanged, with no time gaps among the top contenders. The general classification saw no significant shifts after the stage.
Other jerseys
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) won the intermediate sprint at Corps, collecting 25 points toward the green jersey competition. The Danish rider is locked in a battle for the points classification. No changes were reported in the king of the mountains or best young rider classifications.
What's next
The Tour continues on Friday with stage 19, another demanding Alpine stage. The race will then move toward Paris for the final stage on Sunday, where the 2026 champion will be crowned on the Champs-Élysées.
