Richard Carapaz performs a test of strength and wins the eighteenth stage of the 2026 Tour de France, the Voiron – Orcieres Merlette, of 185.2 km.
The Ecuadorian of EF Education Easy-Post, having entered the day’s breakaway, is waiting for the most favorable moment to free himself from the company and fly towards his ninth victory in a grand tour, the second at the Grande Boucle.
The podium of the stage
Behind the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion are the Swiss Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco Alula) and the American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma Lease a Bike).
Fourth place for the Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step).
Pogacar controls the race and remains leader
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) let go of the breakaway to over four minutes, but “limits” the initiatives of his opponents in terms of the general classification and remains firmly in the yellow jersey, ahead of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe).
The next stop
Tomorrow the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France 2026 is scheduled, the Gap – Alpe d’Huez, of 127.9 km.