Richard Carapaz soloed to victory on Stage 18 of the 2026 Tour de France, attacking on the final climb to Orcières-Merlette. The 185.2-kilometre stage from Voiron was completed in 4:26:21, information from the published classification. Carapaz finished 45 seconds ahead of Mauro Schmid and Matteo Jorgenson, securing his first stage win of this Tour and his second career Tour stage victory after his 2024 success. The Ecuadorian, winner of the 2019 Giro d’Italia and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic road race, said: “This final climb was tough and suited my strengths well.”
The route featured two Category 1 ascents: the Côte d’Engins early in the stage and the finishing climb to the Orcières-Merlette ski station. With Carapaz outside the immediate contest for the overall lead, the peloton allowed a large breakaway to build its advantage. The decisive move came on the final climb, roughly three kilometres from the summit. Carapaz collected 23 mountain-classification points, while Tadej Pogačar finished several minutes behind and retained the overall lead.
The stage unfolded amid concern about illness within UAE Team Emirates. Brandon McNulty and Tim Wellens showed signs of illness at the back of the peloton. McNulty abandoned the race, while Adam Yates had lost impressive time the previous day. Pogačar’s overall position remained intact, even as the squad’s capacity to support him came under pressure. The basic contenders largely stayed out of the breakaway’s fight for the stage, leaving Carapaz and the other escapees to contest the win.
Around thirty riders formed the breakaway before it split into two groups. Carapaz was among those at the front, alongside Egan Bernal and Mads Pedersen. Valentin Paret-Peintre, Matteo Jorgenson, Mauro Schmid, Tobias Johannessen and Raúl García Pierna were also in the leading group. García Pierna was briefly dropped during the selection but rejoined before finishing sixth. Carapaz’s repeated accelerations eventually separated him from the other stage contenders; Schmid and Jorgenson crossed the line together 45 seconds later.
Orcières-Merlette has a prominent place in Tour history: in 1971, Luis Ocaña won there in a celebrated solo ride ahead of Eddy Merckx. Stage 18 did not alter the contest for the yellow jersey, but its breakaway outcome showed how a rider outside the immediate general-classification battle could seize an chance. Carapaz was 10th overall at the stage, while Pogačar preserved a large advantage.
The Tour was scheduled for July 4 to 26, with 21 stages. The 2026 edition opened with a team time trial in Barcelona; coverage of the Barcelona team time trial that launched the Tour traced the impact of that opening event. Carapaz’s breakaway win on Stage 18 added another major turn to the race.
Carapaz followed up with victory on Stage 20 at Alpe d’Huez, finishing in 4:59:39, and secured the Tour’s polka-dot mountain jersey. The 2026 Tour brought him two stage wins and a second career mountains classification, following his 2024 triumph. He is also set to join NSN Cycling Team from the 2027 season on a contract through 2029.
Published standings after the relevant stages placed Pogačar first overall and Carapaz eighth, 20 minutes behind the leader. Carapaz also led the points table with 156 points, ahead of Pogačar’s 100. His Stage 18 victory delivered a major individual result and a large points haul, while Pogačar remained at the top of the general classification.
