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Tour de France 2025: O’Connor Wins Stage 18 As Onley Closes In On Final Podium Spot

Ben O’Connor conquered Stage 18 of the Tour de France, soloing to a superb win after breaking clear with 16km to go, but all eyes were on the battle behind. Tadej Pogacar delivered a hammer blow to rival Jonas Vingegaard on the Col de la Loze, the highest point of this year’s race, dropping the two-time champion in the final 500 metres to finish second and stretch his overall lead to 4 minutes 26 seconds. With just three stages left, Pogacar’s ride on a day featuring over 5,500m of climbing has put him on the brink of a fourth Tour title, while Britain's Oscar Onley also lit up the queen stage to boost his podium hopes.

Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Stage winner Australia's Ben O'Connor
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy

Stage winner Australia's Ben O'Connor celebrates on the podium after the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Slovenias Tadej Pogacar
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates on the podium after the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Germanys Florian Lipowitz
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy

Germany's Florian Lipowitz, wearing the best young rider's white jersey, celebrates on the podium after the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Slovenias Tadej Pogacar
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, celebrates on the podium after the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Australias Ben OConnor
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy

Australia's Ben O'Connor crosses the finish line to win the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Slovenias Tadej Pogacar
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, crosses the finish line during the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Denmarks Jonas Vingegaard
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: Bernard Papon/Pool Photo via AP

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, front, Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Britain's Oscar Onley climb during the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Britains Adam Yates
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: Bernard Papon/Pool Photo via AP

Britain's Adam Yates, Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, Britain's Oscar Onley, and Slovenia's Primoz Roglic, climb during the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Frances Mathieu Burgaudeau
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus

France's Mathieu Burgaudeau speeds down Col du Glandon during the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Slovenias Tadej Pogacar
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, with red and white helmet, speed down Col du Glandon during the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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Tour De France 2025 Cycling Race 18th stage in photos: Frances Bruno Armirail
Tour De France Cycling Race: Stage 18 | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus

The breakaway group with France's Bruno Armirail, Austria's Felix Gall, Austria's Gregor Muehlberger, Slovenia's Primoz Roglic, Netherlands' Thymen Arensman, and other, from front to rear, climb Col du Glandon during the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Vif and finish in Courchevel Col de la Loze, France.

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