Samwise Cycle Racing Newsletter
Friday, July 24, 2026
Carapaz Flies Solo to Win Stage 18 at Orcières-Merlette, GC Unchanged at Top
Richard Carapaz claimed a solo stage victory at Orcières-Merlette on stage 18 of the Tour de France on Thursday, attacking from the day’s breakaway to cross the finish line alone. The Ecuadorian EF Education-EasyPost rider had specifically targeted this Alpine stage as his clearest remaining opportunity for a win. Mauro Schmid (Jayco-AlUla) and Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished 45 seconds back. The GC group rode conservatively, leaving the overall standings unchanged: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) leads Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) by 4:32, with UAE’s Isaac del Toro third at 6:51.
Sources: Cyclingnews Cycling Weekly Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Pogacar Plays Down UAE Illness Crisis: ‘Bodies Everywhere in Our Camp’
Tadej Pogacar acknowledged an illness crisis within UAE Team Emirates-XRG after stage 18 of the Tour de France on Thursday, but insisted the team would continue fighting through the race’s final mountain stages. Pogacar described the camp bluntly: ‘there are bodies everywhere.’ Among the affected support riders, Adam Yates is battling a stomach complaint and Tim Wellens a throat illness; Alexis Vermeersch is separately dealing with injury. Brandon McNulty abandoned on stage 18, leaving Pogacar with just six domestiques for the pivotal double Alpe d’Huez finale on stages 19 and 20.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
McNulty Abandons Tour de France With Throat Illness, Reducing Pogacar to Six Domestiques
Brandon McNulty withdrew from the Tour de France during stage 18 after developing throat symptoms, becoming the latest UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider to succumb to the illness wave sweeping through the team’s camp. UAE team director José Luis ‘Matxin’ Fernandez confirmed McNulty tested negative for Covid but was too unwell to continue. The American had also been hit by a vehicle in the lead-up to stage 16’s time trial, compounding his difficulties. His abandonment leaves Tadej Pogacar with just six support riders as the race enters its critical double Alpe d’Huez stages.
Sources: Cyclingnews Cycling Weekly Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Wellens Crosses Stage 18 Finish 43 Minutes Down, Survives Time Cut by Two Minutes
Tim Wellens completed stage 18 of the Tour de France 43 minutes and 2 seconds behind stage winner Richard Carapaz on Thursday, finishing alone at Orcières-Merlette with just two minutes to spare before the time cut. The Belgian UAE Team Emirates-XRG domestique told reporters he had been ‘doing half the watts’ due to a sore throat, completing the summit finish alone after being dropped from the gruppetto. Wellens’s survival came despite having no team support on the final climb. Teammate Brandon McNulty abandoned the same stage with throat illness, leaving Pogacar with a depleted support squad.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Sick Soldiers and Mixed Messages: What Is Really Happening at UAE Team Emirates-XRG?
A Cyclingnews analysis has found UAE Team Emirates-XRG managing two distinct illness problems rather than a single outbreak — distinguishing between Adam Yates’s gastrointestinal complaint and the throat symptoms that have affected Tim Wellens and ended Brandon McNulty’s Tour. The report raises questions about whether the ailments are connected or represent separate infections circulating through the team. With stages 19 and 20 both finishing atop Alpe d’Huez on Friday and Saturday, Pogacar will need reliable support for decisive GC confrontations — yet his available domestiques have been severely depleted and compromised heading into the race’s defining mountain days.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Illness Spreads Across the Tour Peloton: Could a Race-Wide Virus Derail Pogacar?
Multiple teams beyond UAE Team Emirates-XRG have been affected by illness in the Tour de France’s third week, according to Cycling Weekly reporting on a broader wave of sickness moving through the professional peloton. While attention has focused on UAE’s difficulties due to the abandonment of Brandon McNulty and the near-elimination of Tim Wellens, riders from other squads have also reported symptoms in recent days. Cycling Weekly raises the question of whether Pogacar himself — who holds a 4:32 GC lead — could be at risk, with two summit finishes at Alpe d’Huez remaining before Sunday’s Paris finale.
Sources: Cycling Weekly Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Tudor Without Answers as Alaphilippe Winless Run Extends to 82 Consecutive Stages
Tudor Pro Cycling management has admitted it has no explanation for Julian Alaphilippe’s poor form at the Tour de France, with the team’s co-leader recording a best stage result of 78th place across the race so far. Director Engels told reporters the Belgian ‘is not sick, he feels OK, but he doesn’t have the legs he should have,’ and described the situation as comparable to a fighter with ‘one or two rounds left.’ Alaphilippe’s winless run now extends to 82 consecutive stages, stretching back to his last victory in 2021, according to Cyclingnews.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
General Classification
GC Top 5 — After Stage 18
1. Pogacar — UAE Team Emirates-XRG
2. Evenepoel — +4:32
3. Del Toro — +6:51
4. Seixas — +7:11
5. Ayuso — +9:22
Stage 18 Winner
Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
Other Classifications
Mountains (Polka Dot)
Tadej Pogacar — UAE Team Emirates-XRG
Points (Green)
Mads Pedersen — Lidl-Trek
Young Rider (White)
Isaac Del Toro — UAE (leads Seixas by 20 sec)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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