Carapaz Wins Stage 18 at Tour de France as Doping Test Controversy Emerges Over Seixas

Richard Carapaz won stage 18 at Orcières-Merlette while Tadej Pogacar leads overall by 4 minutes 30 seconds despite illness hitting his team.

Richard Carapaz rode clear of his rivals to claim a commanding stage 18 victory at Orcières-Merlette, one of the more decisive individual performances of this year's Tour de France. The Ecuadorian's win came as the race's overall picture remained dominated by Tadej Pogacar, though his lead has been somewhat eroded after Remco Evenepoel won back-to-back stages, including the stage 16 time trial from Evian to Thonon-les-Bains. Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates has not been without problems. His teammate Adam Yates was affected by a stomach bug during stage 17, a reduced sprint won by Jasper Philipsen — his first stage victory of this Tour. The illness concern within Pogacar's squad adds a layer of uncertainty heading into the race's final days, though the Slovenian's overall lead over Jonas Vingegaard remains substantial. A notable controversy has developed around anti-doping testing procedures. Rivals have raised complaints that French rider Paul Seixas — who leads the young rider classification — has not been subjected to night-time drug tests, unlike some of his competitors. Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme and anti-doping chiefs have rejected accusations of bias, with the International Testing Agency (ITA) defending its practices and denying that the French doping agency plays any role in determining who is tested. Earlier in the race, Swiss rider Mauro Schmid claimed stage 13, edging out Harold Tejada, while Tom Pidcock finished third on the same stage to move into the top four of the general classification. With the race entering its final stages, attention focuses on whether Pogacar can protect his lead, the ongoing doping test controversy, and whether Evenepoel can continue to apply pressure.

Why it matters

Pogacar's 4-minute-30-second lead over Vingegaard makes him the strong favorite to win a major Tour de France, but illness in his team and strong individual performances from rivals like Carapaz keep the final stages consequential. The outcome will determine whether Pogacar secures another Tour title.

What's next

The race moves into its final stages, with Pogacar's team illness situation and the remaining mountain finishes the key factors to watch.

Key facts

Bias & framing notes

All four sources are from a single outlet, The Guardian, which limits independent corroboration. The reporting is factual and event-based with no obvious slant, but the sole-source nature of the coverage prevents a higher trust score. The illness story involving Yates is noted across two articles but not deeply reported in either.

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