Milan, July 24 (LaPresse) – Australia's Ben O'Connor of Team Jayco AlUla claimed a solo victory in Stage 18 of the Tour de France, the queen stage from Vif to Courchevel finishing on the Col de la Loze after 171.5 km. Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar of Team UAE Emirates strengthened his hold on the yellow jersey as the race leader. After a grueling stage featuring 5,500 meters of elevation gain and long climbs up the Col du Glandon and Col de la Madeleine, serving as a prelude to the final ascent of the Col de la Loze (26.4 km at 6.5%), O'Connor, who had been in the breakaway from the start, crossed the finish line alone, 1’45” ahead of Pogacar and 1’55” ahead of Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard of Visma Lease a Bike. It is O'Connor’s second career win at the Tour.