Richard Carapaz of EF Education-Easypost claimed victory on stage 18 of the Tour de France with a decisive breakaway, finishing 45 seconds ahead of second-placed Mauro Schmid and Matteo Jorgenson.

Meanwhile, sickness is affecting overall leader Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad, with key support rider Brandon McNulty abandoning the race. This follows Adam Yates falling ill and struggling in recent stages.

Pogacar maintains his lead in the general classification by four minutes 32 seconds over Remco Evenepoel. The race enters a challenging phase in the French Alps, with two mountainous stages remaining. Despite the loss of domestiques, Pogacar remains in a strong position to potentially secure his fifth Tour de France title.