Richard Carapaz won stage 18 of the Tour de France on a demanding mountain route, crossing the finish line at the winter sports station of Orcières-Merlette 45 seconds clear of his closest rivals after a gutsy lone attack, according to race reports. While the EF Education-EasyPost rider celebrated his victory, mounting uncertainty surrounds the health of race leader Tadej Pogacar and his UAE Team Emirates XRG squad, which has been swept by a virus since Monday’s rest day.
UAE Team Emirates XRG Hit by Illness and Attrition in Tour de France Third Week
Pogacar’s team faced severe setbacks on the road as sickness and injuries rapidly dismantled the squad supporting the yellow jersey. Following Adam Yates’s stage-long struggle on the road to Voiron, UAE Team Emirates XRG lost American rider Brandon McNulty, who abandoned the Tour with 21 kilometres remaining in Thursday’s stage, according to team statements. McNulty had also been managing physical issues after being hit by a car during a reconnaissance ride ahead of the time trial.
Additional squad members, including Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch, showed clear signs of physical distress during the mountainous route featuring five categorized climbs. Speaking at the stage start in Voiron, Wellens confirmed that other riders within the team were unwell and revealed that he was personally battling a sore throat. Pogacar himself hinted at the team’s precarious situation by switching his usual yellow shorts for black ones, sparking intense speculation over the true extent of the camp’s health issues.
“I’m sad that Brandon could not finish. We will see in the next two days but Adam is getting better, and tomorrow, we will go with the flow,” Pogacar told reporters regarding the mounting adversity. “I think we can manage. It’s the third week, all the teams are suffering. There are bodies everywhere on a stage like today. We will keep fighting and I believe we can do it.”
Richard Carapaz Claims Stage Victory After Narrowly Avoiding Fan Collision
For Richard Carapaz, the stage 18 triumph marked another high point in the mountains following his previous success at nearby Superdévoluy. The former Giro d’Italia champion overcame a mid-race scare when he narrowly avoided colliding with an errant spectator on the road. Recovering swiftly from the hazard, the Ecuadorian launched a decisive solo effort that ultimately secured him victory 45 seconds ahead of Matteo Jorgenson and Mauro Schmid.
Did you know? Richard Carapaz previously claimed a mountain stage win at nearby Superdévoluy during the Tour de France, establishing a strong track record of success in the race’s mid-mountain stages.
While the main overall contenders observed a tactical truce on the climbs, riders shut out of previous breakaways made final attempts to secure a stage win. Geraint Thomas described the Tour as “tough going” for the Netcompany Ineos squad, which has yet to secure a stage victory despite repeated efforts. Ineos riders Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman attempted to bridge the gap but ultimately missed the decisive six-rider breakaway that carried Carapaz to the finish.
High Stakes Await at Alpe d’Huez After Stage 18 Breakthrough
With a 4m 32s lead over second-placed Remco Evenepoel, Pogacar maintains a comfortable physical buffer on paper, but the depleted state of his support squad leaves him looking vulnerable ahead of the final Alpine tests. The peloton faces a demanding double-headed mountain-top finish across Friday and Saturday on Alpe d’Huez before the final procession into Paris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won stage 18 of the Tour de France?
Richard Carapaz of the EF Education-EasyPost team won stage 18 after launching a lone attack and finishing 45 seconds ahead of Mauro Schmid and Matteo Jorgenson.
Why did Brandon McNulty abandon the Tour de France?
Brandon McNulty quit the race with 21 kilometres remaining on stage 18, amidst a virus sweeping through the UAE Team Emirates XRG squad and lingering injuries from being hit by a car during a time-trial reconnaissance.
What is Tadej Pogacar’s lead in the general classification?
Tadej Pogacar holds a 4-minute and 32-second lead over second-placed Remco Evenepoel heading into the final stages in the Alps.