Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost secured a stage win at the 2026 Tour de France, emerging victorious in stage 18 at Orcières-Merlette. Carapaz successfully navigated the Alpine terrain, showcasing his strategic prowess.
Stage Highlights
The stage profile encouraged large breakaways. After initial challenges on the Côte d’Engins, a 14-rider front group formed. Key among them was Mads Pedersen, aiming to regain ground in the green jersey competition. Pedersen claimed maximum points during the stage’s intermediate sprint, located nearly 130km in.
From this group, five riders—Matteo Jorgenson, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Raúl García Pierna, Felix Engelhardt, and Mauro Schmid—launched an attack. They were joined by Carapaz and Valentin Paret-Peintre. As the ascent began towards Orcières-Merlette, Carapaz made a decisive move. He launched an attack with 4km remaining, leaving Paret-Peintre and Johannessen behind.
Carapaz’s Strategy
Carapaz executed his strategy flawlessly. Known for his endurance in the third week of a Grand Tour, he leveraged his experience and freedom provided by his team. The groundwork for his victory was laid when the peloton opted not to close down the breakaway group.
As the kilometers ticked down, Carapaz initiated a rallying attack, pulling ahead of Johannessen and García Pierna. A secondary burst ensured his solo finish, ultimately securing his ninth Grand Tour stage win—none by a South American cyclist has achieved more.
Challenges for UAE Team Emirates
Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates experienced setbacks. Key team members suffered from illnesses, including Brandon McNulty, who abandoned mid-stage. Despite these challenges, Pogačar seemed optimistic, emphasizing the team’s resolve to continue fighting in the upcoming mountain stages.
Mads Pedersen Bounces Back
Pedersen made a strategic move by joining a breakaway early, aiming to solidify his lead in the green jersey standings. After a disappointing stage 17, Pedersen capitalized on the intermediate sprint opportunities to extend his points lead over closer competitors.
Other Key Competitions
With the yellow jersey firmly held by Pogačar and Pedersen favored for the green, other riders pursued personal and team goals. Yannis Voisard, in particular, showed remarkable progress, determined to secure a top 10 general classification finish despite dropping from tenth to eleventh after Carapaz’s win.
Aaron Gate, another Tour debutant, shared insights into the challenges of his first Tour de France experience. Aspiring for team success with sprinter Max Kanter, Gate reflects the broader determination of riders engaged in personal and team ambitions.
Stage Results and Upcoming Challenges
Carapaz completed stage 18 in 4:26:21, followed by Mauro Schmid and Matteo Jorgenson in second and third places, respectively. In the general classification after stage 18, Tadej Pogačar leads, with Remco Evenepoel trailing.
The next stage, from Gap to Alpe d’Huez, presents another mountain challenge. As one of cycling’s legendary climbs, it offers further opportunities for strategic moves, particularly if the competitive tempo increases.