Belgian cyclist Victor Campenaerts won stage 18 of the Tour de France, his first-ever Tour stage victory, after out-sprinting Michal Kwiatkowski and Matteo Vercher in the final 200 meters. The stage, featuring a scenic route around Lake Serre-Poncon, was dominated by breakaways, allowing lesser-known riders to shine as overall contenders Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard relaxed. Pogacar retained his yellow jersey with a lead of 3 minutes and 11 seconds. The stage win was particularly emotional for Campenaerts, who celebrated via video call with his partner and baby immediately after crossing the finish line. The hilly route of Stage 18 provided an exciting backdrop for the breakaway riders to shine, with the next stages expected to be decisive with challenging mountainous terrains.