EF Education-Easypost Secures Stage Win at Tour de France

EF Education-Easypost entered the 2026 Tour de France with the aim of securing stage victories. Their efforts paid off on stage 18 at Orcières-Merlette, where Richard Carapaz emerged victorious after an impressive performance.

Carapaz’s win was a reward for strategic prowess as the race ventured into the Alps. The stage was tailored for breakaway groups, and by the time they reached the category one Côte d’Engins, a 14-rider group had separated from the peloton. This group included Mads Pedersen, who was seeking to reclaim lost ground for the green jersey in prior stages.

The intermediate sprint, taking place nearly 130 km into the stage, saw Pedersen dominate by claiming maximum points. Then, Matteo Jorgenson, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Raúl García Pierna, Felix Engelhardt, and Mauro Schmid, accompanied by Carapaz and Valentin Paret-Peintre, made their move in the lull. Engelhardt was dropped quickly, followed by García Pierna near the Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes.

As the riders approached the final climb to Orcières-Merlette, Carapaz launched an attack 4 km from the finish, dropping Paret-Peintre and Johannessen. A second push enabled him to break away solo, leading to a remarkable victory. Schmid continued his effective race, finishing second after outsprinting Jorgenson.

You like this one, right Richard? 😉🥇 Tu l’aimes celle-ci, pas vrai Richard ? 😉🥇

Carapaz crossed the finish line with arms outstretched, showcasing his mastery. Known for peaking in the final week, he leveraged his experience and understanding of his strengths to capture the stage. Despite being 25 minutes behind Tadej Pogačar on the general classification, Carapaz was positioned well when the peloton hesitated to chase.

By using a classic tactic to attack initially, Carapaz distanced himself once more to secure the lead. Over the final kilometer, he gained 21 seconds, sealing his ninth Grand Tour stage victory, the most for a South American rider.

🔻 A strong attack, followed by a full-throttle final kilometer before celebrating a magnificent victory. Great job, Richard Carapaz! 🔻 Un démarrage tranchant puis un dernier kilomètre à fond avant de célébrer une magnifique victoire, bravo Richard Carapaz!

Securing his top 10 position overall, Carapaz’s successful hunt over the past few days allowed him to climb the ranks. In the mountains classification, he is now just seven points behind leader Pogačar.

Amid UAE Team Emirates’ challenges, including illness affecting team members, Pogačar remained isolated upon arrival at Orcières-Merlette. Brandon McNulty and Adam Yates suffered from health issues, and Tim Wellens felt unwell as well. Though two teammates, Isaac del Toro and Felix Politt, ensured they would continue fighting through the latter stages of the race.

Elsewhere, Mads Pedersen rebounded positively after a setback on stage 17, reclaiming points in the green jersey competition. His commitment led him to participate robustly in the intermediate sprint, extending his lead to 32 points over Jasper Philipsen.

With races within the Tour de France, individual stories such as those of Yannis Voisard and Aaron Gate enliven the competition. Voisard, at 27, surged into the top 10 and aspired to maintain a career-transforming performance. Meanwhile, Gate realized prestigious goals amidst the intense pace of the Tour.

On stage 18, top contenders included Richard Carapaz, Mauro Schmid, and Matteo Jorgenson, highlighting the continued fierce battle for supremacy. General classification continues to be led by Tadej Pogačar, followed by Remco Evenepoel and Isaac del Toro.

Stage 19 slated for Friday will cover the 128 km route from Gap to Alpe d’Huez, featuring one of cycling’s legendary climbs. The stage promises action-packed turns along the famed 21 hairpins.