Ben O’Connor Dominates Col de la Loze to Win Stage 18 of Tour de France 2025
A Solo Show on the Queen Stage
Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) delivered a masterclass in climbing on Stage 18 of the 2025 Tour de France, conquering the legendary Col de la Loze after a daring long-range solo. The Australian climber timed his move perfectly on the 26.4 km ascent, shaking off breakaway companions and holding off a surging GC group to claim his second career Tour stage — and his second Grand Tour win this year.
He crossed the line 1’45” ahead of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), with Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) a further 9 seconds adrift.
Top 5 – Stage 18:
- 🇦🇺 Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla)
- 🇸🇮 Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +1’45”
- 🇩🇰 Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1’54”
- 🇬🇧 Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) +1’58”
- 🇨🇴 Einer Rubio (Movistar) +2’00”
See all standings after stage 18 results.
Key Moments – How the Stage Was Won
The Long Climb to Glory
At 26.4 km with a 6.5% average gradient, the Col de la Loze was always going to be decisive. O’Connor, already decorated with stage wins in every Grand Tour, attacked with 16 km to go — and never looked back.
Einer Rubio (Movistar) was the last to see O’Connor’s wheel before the Jayco rider turned on the gas, growing his gap from seconds to minutes.
Pogacar vs. Vingegaard: A GC Standoff Erupts
The GC group, initially marshaled by Adam Yates and Marc Soler, saw a fierce acceleration from Jonas Vingegaard inside the final 2 km. But Tadej Pogacar matched every move — and eventually countered, dropping the Dane with 500 meters to go.
While O’Connor soaked in the win, Pogacar’s final surge earned him second on the stage and, crucially, maximum mountain points — a strategic KOM gain to accompany his yellow jersey.
Lipowitz and Jorgenson Crumble, GC Group Holds
Earlier attackers Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull–Bora-Hansgrohe) and Matteo Jorgenson (Visma) faltered on the Loze slopes, swept up by the GC group led by Narváez and Yates. As the fireworks erupted behind, O’Connor flew ahead — a calm, calculated predator among the chaos.
What It Means
- Ben O’Connor claims his second career Tour de France stage win and completes a rare trifecta: stage wins in all three Grand Tours.
- Tadej Pogacar increases his King of the Mountains lead, tightening his grip on yellow and polka-dot jerseys alike.
- Jonas Vingegaard, while still in podium position, may be running out of terrain to make a decisive strike.
Post-Stage Quote – O’Connor (Jayco AlUla)
“It’s just magic. I love these brutal climbs — they let the legs do the talking. Today, I had the legs, and I wasn’t going to waste them.”
Up Next – Stage 19 Preview
Stage 19 brings a rolling transitional day, offering a breakaway opportunity or a tactical reset before the final GC tests. But after the carnage of the Loze, many will just be praying for survival.
