Richard Carapaz of Ecuador won the 18th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, crossing the finish line first after the final climb to Orcieres-Merlette. The victory was a strong showing for Carapaz, a former Giro d'Italia champion, as he claimed his second stage win in this year's race.
Meanwhile, overall leader Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia maintained his position at the top of the general classification. However, his team suffered a setback when Brandon McNulty, one of Pogacar's crucial climbing teammates, abandoned the race. The reason for McNulty's withdrawal was not immediately reported.
The Tour de France continues with several more stages before the finish in Paris. Pogacar, who has dominated much of the race, still holds a comfortable lead over his rivals. Carapaz's stage win adds to his impressive record in grand tours and highlights Ecuador's growing presence in professional cycling.