Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost covered the 185.2-kilometre Stage 18 route from Voiron to Orcières-Merlette in 4:26:21 to take the win. He attacked on the final climb, earning his first stage win of the race and his second Tour stage victory overall. Mauro Schmid of Jayco AlUla and Matteo Jorgenson of Visma-Lease a Bike finished 45 seconds behind; the results listing placed Schmid second and Jorgenson third.
Carapaz attacked as Tadej Pogačar protected his overall lead. An Associated Press report carried by The Post-Journal said Carapaz, then 10th overall, was not considered a direct threat to the Tour victory, which helps explain why the race leader did not chase him down. AP reported that Remco Evenepoel was 4 minutes and 32 seconds behind Pogačar, while Isaac del Toro sat third overall, 6 minutes and 51 seconds back. Pogačar is pursuing a fifth overall Tour title. It would be his third consecutive Tour victory, not a fifth in a row.
The stage was scheduled to finish at about 17:20 on Thursday, 23 July. Carapaz’s decisive attack and 45-second margin over the next two finishers made the Alpine stage a major result for EF Education-EasyPost, as well as a personal key stage in his Tour record.
The Associated Press summed up the finish: “Richard Carapaz timed his attack perfectly in the final climb to win the 18th stage of the Tour de France.” The full stage classification is listed by The Post-Journal.
Ability to recover among top athletes in major competitions has been a recurring theme this season. Paula Badosa’s recent push towards a top-100 comeback after her Bastad run is detailed in this related report.
The Tour de France is one of the most watched sporting events in Spain, with millions following each stage. Spanish riders and teams have a long tradition of success in the race, whose outcome often influences the national sporting agenda. The 2026 edition continues to draw attention as the race approaches its conclusion in Paris.
