Richard Carapaz wins Stage 18 of the Tour de France with a late breakaway, Tadej Pogacar keeps overall lead - NBC Sports

What the report says

NBC Sports, citing the Associated Press, reported that Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz won Stage 18 of the Tour de France on July 23 after launching a late attack on the final climb to Orcières-Merlette, France. The 33-year-old moved clear roughly two miles from the summit and held off the chasers for his first stage victory of the 2026 race and the second Tour stage win of his career.

Carapaz finished 45 seconds ahead of Swiss rider Mauro Schmid and American Matteo Jorgenson. The report said Tadej Pogacar was not compelled to chase Carapaz because the Ecuadorian sits 10th overall and is not viewed as a threat for the yellow jersey. Carapaz, the 2019 Giro d’Italia winner, had earlier joined a front group after the Côte d’Engins climb and then made the decisive move when Jorgenson and Schmid could not follow on the ascent to the ski station.

Pogacar crossed the line later in a larger group that included his main rival, Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, and UAE Emirates XRG teammate Isaac Del Toro. The overall standings were unchanged: Pogacar leads Evenepoel by 4 minutes, 32 seconds, with Del Toro third at 6:51. Pogacar is seeking a third consecutive Tour title and fifth overall.

The stage, a 115-mile mountain route from Voiron to Orcières-Merlette, opened a three-day Alpine stretch that could still influence the general classification. NBC Sports noted that Stage 19 finishes on L’Alpe d’Huez, while Stage 20 features multiple high-category climbs before the race concludes July 26 in Paris.