Key Takeaways
- Richard Carapaz won the 18th stage of the Tour de France.
- Pogacar lost key team-mates to illness, including Brandon McNulty and Adam Yates.
- Carapaz is now closer to Pogacar in the overall standings.
Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz secured victory in the 18th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, crossing the finish line after a grueling 185km race from Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette. The win marks his second stage triumph at this prestigious event.
Carapaz's victory came as race leader Tadej Pogacar faced significant setbacks with key team-mates falling ill. Brandon McNulty, a crucial mountain lieutenant for the Slovenian champion, had to pull out due to illness just one day after Adam Yates struggled home 26 minutes behind stage 17 winner Jasper Philipsen.
Speaking about his team's struggles, Pogacar’s sports manager Matxin Joxean Fernandez highlighted the challenges: 'Adam had stomach troubles, he was vomiting, and Brandon has a type of constipation. When you don’t have a fever, you’re not positive for COVID, nor the flu, but your throat hurts, you have mucus, a headache.'
The next two stages will see both Pogacar and his team face brutal climbs atop the iconic Alpe d’Huez mountain. Pogacar remains in the lead by four and a half minutes over Remco Evenepoel but acknowledged the difficulties: 'It’s totally different because Adam had stomach troubles, he was vomiting, and Brandon has a type of constipation.'
Despite his team's issues, Pogacar maintained optimism for future stages. He said, 'We will miss him the next two days, obviously, but I think Adam is getting better and tomorrow I think we’ll go with the flow. We survive tomorrow’s stage, try to come to Alpe d’Huez and see what we can do.'
Carapaz's win also brought him closer in the competition for the polkadot jersey, which awards the King of the Mountains. He now trails Pogacar by just seven points but remains on course to claim a record-equalling fifth Tour victory, joining cycling legends Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.
In his post-race comments, Carapaz expressed his satisfaction: 'It’s the third week, all the teams are a bit suffering. You can see the bodies everywhere on the stage like today already.' He added, 'We will keep fighting and I believe we can do it.'
The race continues with heightened tension as Pogacar navigates through challenging terrain without his key support riders. The next stages will be crucial in determining the outcome of this year’s Tour de France.
It’s totally different because Adam had stomach troubles, he was vomiting, and Brandon has a type of constipation.
Matxin Joxean Fernandez, UAE Emirates-XRG sports manager
We will miss him the next two days, obviously, but I think Adam is getting better and tomorrow I think we’ll go with the flow. We survive tomorrow’s stage, try to come to Alpe d’Huez and see what we can do.
Tadej Pogacar, Race leader
