Carapaz conquers the Col de la Loze for stunning solo victory

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) claimed a magnificent solo victory on the summit of the Col de la Loze, winning Thursday's mountainous stage 18 of the Tour de France 2026. The Olympic champion attacked from the remnants of a powerful breakaway on the final climb and held off all chasers for his first win of the race.

Behind him, Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco-AlUla) and Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) crossed the line 45 seconds later to take second and third place respectively from the chase group.

The main GC contenders fought their own battle several minutes down the road. Race leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) marked his rivals and finished in a select group 4:35 behind Carapaz, ensuring no major changes at the top of the overall classification.

Stage 18 was the undisputed queen stage, a 179 km monster featuring the ascents of the Col du Glandon and the Col de la Madeleine before the gruelling summit finish on the Col de la Loze.

A strong breakaway group formed early, sensing an opportunity for stage glory as the GC teams seemed content to let them build an advantage. The move contained a host of strong climbers, including the eventual winner Carapaz, Jorgenson, and Schmid.

In the peloton, Team Visma | Lease a Bike took control on the Madeleine, setting a punishing pace that reduced the main group and brought the breakaway's lead down. The escapees worked well together, however, to maintain a workable gap heading onto the punishing slopes of the final climb.

It was on the steep, irregular gradients of the Col de la Loze that Carapaz made his move, attacking his breakaway companions and forging a solo path to the summit. Further down the mountain, the GC battle ignited with a flurry of attacks, but the main favourites ultimately cancelled each other out, leaving Carapaz to savour a memorable victory.

• Richard Carapaz's victory was a masterclass in breakaway riding. He chose the right move, conserved energy, and attacked at the perfect moment on one of the Tour's hardest climbs, delivering a massive win for EF Education-EasyPost and a reminder of his class.
• For all the fireworks, the GC battle ended in a stalemate. Team Visma | Lease a Bike's hard work on the Madeleine failed to isolate Tadej Pogačar, and the yellow jersey looked comfortable marking every attack on the final climb. Opportunities to take significant time are running out.
• Matteo Jorgenson's third place on the stage is a remarkable ride. To spend all day in the breakaway on such a brutal stage and still fight for the win demonstrates his strength and recovery, especially after he reportedly felt unwell earlier in the race.
• The day was a classic example of a two-tiered race. The breakaway fought for the stage while the GC contenders focused solely on each other. The significant time gap shows the top teams were happy to gift the stage in exchange for a controlled battle for the overall.