Ben O’Connor Triumphs in Tour de France Stage 18; Pogacar Escapes Pre-Race Collision
Ben O’Connor wins Stage 18 as Tadej Pogacar fends off pre-race incident but retains yellow jersey.
Key Points
- • Ben O’Connor wins Stage 18 at col de la Loze, finishing 1:45 ahead of Pogacar.
- • Tadej Pogacar retains the yellow jersey despite a pre-race collision with a Visma team car.
- • Pogacar also claims the polka dot jersey following Lenny Martinez's penalty for receiving team car assistance.
- • The stage featured extreme elevation gains, with intense competition among top contenders.
In a gripping 18th stage of the Tour de France 2025 held on July 24, Australian cyclist Ben O’Connor claimed a remarkable victory at the summit of the col de la Loze, dominating the challenging terrain that featured three hors catégorie climbs and a total elevation gain of 5,476 meters. Tadej Pogacar, despite a minor pre-stage incident involving a collision with a Visma team car, successfully retained his yellow jersey, strengthening his position in the general classification.
O’Connor's win came after an impressive 15-kilometer solo effort, finishing 1 minute and 45 seconds ahead of Pogacar. He initially broke away from the peloton in the company of Matteo Jorgenson and Einer Rubio but eventually surged on alone to secure his stage victory. This individual performance is significant as it highlights the competitive dynamics of the race, particularly among the top riders.
Pogacar, who experienced the light collision with a Visma vehicle as he made his way to the start line in Vif, exhibited resilience throughout the stage, managing to fend off relentless challenges, particularly from Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike. Vingegaard, who has been a constant threat in the competition, attempted to increase the pace but ultimately finished behind Pogacar, losing an additional 11 seconds.
Adding intrigue to the day's events, Lenny Martinez was penalized after being towed by a team car, resulting in him losing his grip on the coveted polka dot jersey, which now belongs to Pogacar, who leads the mountain classification with 105 points. Despite the pre-race mishap, Pogacar reassured fans of his well-being, humorously suggesting that the incident may have been an attempt by the driver to better manage the brakes.
In conclusion, while Ben O’Connor's stage win was a personal highlight, Tadej Pogacar's continued dominance and ability to navigate obstacles, both on and off the bike, set the tone for the remaining stages of this year's Tour. With Vingegaard lagging over four minutes behind Pogacar, the stage has tightened the gripping contest leading towards the eventual conclusion of the race.