The Tour de France 2026 stage 18 delivered an electrifying performance as Richard Carapaz roared clear to claim a stunning solo victory in the Alpine climb to Orcieres Merlette. The Ecuadorian champion attacked early in the breakaway and held off a charging Valentin Paret-Peintre to cross the line first, reigniting the race for the polka dot jersey and thrilling fans worldwide.
How Carapaz Won Stage 18 of the Tour de France 2026
Carapaz, riding for EF Education-EasyPost, timed his move perfectly on the final ascent. With 70 points in the King of the Mountains classification, he now trails leader Tadej Pogacar by just one point. The stage win marked his second career Tour stage victory and first since 2021.
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GC Standings After Stage 18
Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow jersey with a lead of 4 minutes and 32 seconds over Remco Evenepoel. The top ten saw minimal changes, with Isaac Del Toro holding third. Here is the current GC top five:
| Position | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tadej Pogacar | UAE Team Emirates | 64h 35m 13s |
| 2 | Remco Evenepoel | Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe | +4m 32s |
| 3 | Isaac Del Toro | UAE Team Emirates | +6m 51s |
| 4 | Paul Seixas | Decathlon | +7m 11s |
| 5 | Juan Ayuso | Lidl-Trek | +9m 22s |
Key Takeaways from Stage 18
- Richard Carapaz secured his first Tour stage win in five years, moving into second in the KOM standings.
- Mads Pedersen extended his green jersey lead to 32 points over Jasper Philipsen in the points competition.
- Tom Pidcock finished tenth but admitted he is focusing on GC rather than breakaways.
- The stage saw dramatic racing in the Alps, setting up a thrilling finale on Alpe d’Huez tomorrow.
What’s Next: The Queen Stage to Alpe d’Huez
Stage 19 finishes atop the legendary Alpe d’Huez, a 13.8km climb with 21 hairpin turns. Pogacar’s lead looks solid, but Evenepoel and Del Toro could attack. Carapaz will also target more KOM points to challenge for the polka dot jersey.
FAQ
Who won stage 18 of the Tour de France 2026?
Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost won stage 18, beating Valentin Paret-Peintre in a solo breakaway victory.
What are the GC standings after stage 18?
Tadej Pogacar leads by 4 minutes and 32 seconds over Remco Evenepoel, with Isaac Del Toro in third place.
Will Richard Carapaz win the polka dot jersey?
Carapaz is now just one point behind KOM leader Tadej Pogacar with two mountain stages remaining, making the polka dot jersey battle wide open.
Tomorrow’s stage up Alpe d’Huez promises high drama. Will Pogacar seal his fourth Tour title? Or can Evenepoel mount a comeback? Stay tuned for live coverage.
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