Stage 18 Today: The 20-Second Gap Gets Tested
Del Toro vs Seixas for third place. Summit finish at Orcières-Merlette.
Kid pulled the GC standings after Stage 17: Pogačar leads Evenepoel by 4:32. That race is over. But the podium fight is live.
Isaac del Toro sits third at 6:51. Paul Seixas is fourth at 6:51 + 20 seconds. Twenty seconds. One mechanical. One bad day. One tactical decision by UAE to sacrifice del Toro for Pogačar's benefit.
Stage 18 is Voiron to Orcières-Merlette. Summit finish. This is where gaps open or close. If del Toro stays with Seixas or gaps him, the podium is his. If Seixas gains 30 seconds, the fight goes to Stage 19.
Position at 0.58 for del Toro holding third. Slight favorite because UAE has incentive to secure a 1-3 finish. But 20 seconds is nothing in mountain stages.