![[Loic VENANCE / AFP]](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/158269171/54000357da3dc302eecb59343be09c452cab4111e0a5a850344488fc9ec837b4)
Overview
- Richard Carapaz soloed to victory at Orcières-Merlette on Thursday after breaking clear from a six-rider escape and finishing 45 seconds ahead of his nearest chasers.
- Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow jersey with a 4:32 lead over Remco Evenepoel as UAE Team Emirates copes with illness in the squad and saw Brandon McNulty abandon the race.
- Jasper Philipsen’s win on stage 17 reduced his deficit in the green jersey race to seven points behind Mads Pedersen, keeping the sprint classification live through the Champs-Élysées.
- The mountain competition is tightly held, with Valentin Paret-Peintre one point behind Pogacar for the polka-dot jersey and roughly 114 climbing points still available in the final stages.
- With two Alpe d'Huez summit finishes scheduled for Friday and Saturday, teams are expected to conserve energy and deploy tactical attacks, making those stages the most likely moments for decisive GC moves and for French riders to pursue the race's first home victory.