Richard Carapaz delivered a decisive solo attack on the final climb to Orcieres-Merlette to win stage 18 of the Tour de France, finishing 45 seconds ahead of Mauro Schmid with Matteo Jorgenson in third. EF Education-EasyPost’s Ecuadorian rider helped spark a dramatic day by breaking clear from the lead breakaway and timing his final surge perfectly. Race leader Tadej Pogačar finished in the reduced peloton, retaining the yellow jersey with a 4:32 advantage over Remco Evenepoel. Valentin Paret-Peintre, who had collected many mountain points, faded from the front in the finale after leading on climbs earlier. Jorgenson, Schmid, and Paret-Peintre were part of the key breakaway that paved the stage’s decisive final kilometers. Carapaz’s victory adds to his Tour achievements and signals a strong performance for EF Education-EasyPost ahead of further mountain stages.