Australian Ben O'Connor wins Stage 18 atop the Col de la Loze

Australian cyclist Ben O’Connor claimed victory in Stage 18 of the Tour de France on Thursday, conquering the formidable Col de la Loze after a grueling climb over three Alpine mountains. The win marks a significant milestone for O’Connor, who last tasted victory in the Tour four years ago in the Alps at Tignes.

O’Connor's impressive performance was highlighted by a steady ascent during the final climb, allowing him to finish the stage in 4 hours, 53 minutes, and 47 seconds, outpacing his competitors and securing a remarkable win for Team Jayco Alula. The Australian cyclist expressed his elation post-race, stating, “It’s amazing to win here, and I’m relieved to get a win for the team.”

While O’Connor celebrated his victory, the race saw defending champion Tadej Pogacar of Team UAE also extend his lead in the general classification. Pogacar, having started the day with a significant lead over second-placed Jonas Vingegaard, tracked Vingegaard’s aggressive attack 71 km from the finish line. Ultimately, Pogacar dropped Vingegaard, gaining an additional 11 seconds and positioning himself closer to a potential fourth Tour de France title.

Reflecting on his performance, Vingegaard admitted, “It was brutal; I’ve never lived anything so hard. The team did well, and we had a good plan, but I couldn’t take any time off Tadej.” The Danish cyclist remains a formidable contender as the race approaches its conclusion.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s Ben Healy continues to impress, maintaining his spot within the top 10 of the general classification. Healy finished 17th in Stage 18, clocking in at 5 hours, 13 minutes, and 15 seconds, 9 minutes and 28 seconds behind O’Connor. Healy currently sits ninth overall, 25 minutes and 41 seconds off Pogacar’s commanding lead.

As the Tour de France progresses, the upcoming Stage 19 promises to be a dramatic showdown. Cyclists will face a challenging five-mountain slog between Albertville and La Plagne, featuring 60 km of steep slopes that could alter the race dynamics before the grand finale in Paris. The Tour will culminate on Sunday with the iconic finish line at the Champs Élysées, following three climbs to the Sacre Coeur Basilica along the cobbled lanes of Montmartre.

VIDEO: 2025 Tour de France Stage 18 Highlights

2025 Tour de France Stage 18 Top 10

1  O'Connor Ben Team Jayco-AlUla 05:03:47
2  Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 01:45
3  Vingegaard Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 01:54
4  Onley Oscar Team Picnic PostNL + 01:58
5  Rubio Einer Movistar Team + 02:00
6  Gall Felix Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale + 02:25
7  Roglic Primoz Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 02:46
8  Yates Adam UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 03:03
9  Johannessen Tobias Halland Uno-X Mobility + 03:09
10  Kuss Sepp Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 03:26

2025 Tour de France GC after Stage 18

01  Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG 66:55:42
02  Vingegaard Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 04:26
03  Lipowitz Florian Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 11:01
04  Onley Oscar Team Picnic PostNL + 11:23
05  Roglic Primoz Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 12:49
06  Gall Felix Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale + 15:36
07  Vauquelin Kévin ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 16:15
08  Johannessen Tobias Halland Uno-X Mobility + 18:31
09  Healy Ben EF Education-EasyPost + 25:41
10  O'Connor Ben Team Jayco-AlUla + 29:19