2025 Tour de France Stage 15 Report: Belgian champion Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates XRG) impressively soloed to Carcassonne to win the fifteenth stage of the 2025 Tour de France. Wellens, one in every of Tadej Pogačar’s right-hand males, joined a big break and survived a number of splits, to assault simply earlier than the highest of the ultimate leaving Victor Campenaerts, Quinn Simmons, and Michael Storer to battle for second place. Wellens has now gained a stage in all three Grand Excursions: Giro, Vuelta and now the Tour. There was no modifications on the general.
The remaining Ok of stage 15
Race director, Christian Prudhomme: “The highway to Carcassonne usually favours the sprinters, however 2,400 metres of vertical achieve in lower than 170 kilometres might encourage the breakaway specialists. The Côte de Saint-Ferréol on the highway out of Revel after which the Pas du Sant (2.9km at 10%) might properly present them with the proper alternative to eradicate their rivals. After that, there’s 40 kilometres of light descent into the medieval metropolis, with the potential of a powerful crosswind too!”
Stage 15 profile
Can UAE add extra lions to the bus assortment?
After three gruelling days within the Pyrenees, it was the baroudeurs’ flip to shine on the finish of the second week of the 2025 Tour de France. Often tasked with defending Tadej Pogačar, Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates-XRG) made essentially the most of this chance to take part in a competition of assaults, whereas his chief safely navigated the bunch. Greater than 30 riders managed to interrupt away en path to Carcassonne. Wellens left all of them in his wake with 43.5 km to go, claiming his first victory within the Tour de France. Already a winner in La Vuelta and the Giro, he turns into the 113th rider with stage wins in all three Grand Excursions, Wout van Aert was the 112th. Wellens additionally succeeds Van Aert as a Belgian nationwide champion claiming victory within the Tour, Van Aert had performed it in 2021. Behind him, Victor Campenaerts (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) took second and third on the stage, forward of Van Aert. The peloton crossed the road at 6 minutes.
Lenny Martinez has a battle on his fingers to maintain the KOM jersey
The final effort earlier than the final relaxation day! After three days within the Pyrenees, the peloton set out for Carcassonne with a hilly course that might favour attackers. Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto) did’t participate within the battle as he withdrew forward of the beginning. The Belgian climber was removed from the most effective model of himself after a crash early within the Tour.
Van der Poel appears eager for the inexperienced jersey
Early scare for Vingegaard and Lipowitz
As quickly because the flag dropped, Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) attacked with the hopes to repeat their gorgeous assault on Toulouse (stage 11). However there have been dozens of contenders for the break, which led to a livid battle marked by a crash within the bunch at 17 kilometres.
Yellow is the color of France in July
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Florian Lipowitz (Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) had been among the many many riders affected. They led a powerful chase however on the entrance, assaults saved flying, which prevented them from getting again to the bunch till km 38.
The wind cut up the race in to echelons
MvdP initiates the break
Within the meantime, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) attacked at 27 kilometres. He was adopted by Victor Campenaerts (Visma | Lease a Bike), Neilson Powless (EF Training-EasyPost), Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious), Clément Russo (Groupama-FDJ), Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies), Alexey Lutsenko (Israel-Premier Tech) and Jarrad Drizners (Lotto).
The peloton weren’t taking it simple, however the break ultimately had over 7 minutes lead
Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates-XRG), Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike), Pascal Eenkhoorn (Soudal Fast-Step), Tobias Lund Andresen (Workforce Picnic PostNL), Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) made it 15 riders within the lead at km 34… And the battle goes on, as INEOS Grenadiers need to have somebody on the entrance.
Wellens left the break with 43 kilometres to go
The battle goes on and on
The configuration modifications barely on the Côte de Saint-Ferréol (72.8km), the place Jasper Stuyven, Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) and Michael Storer (Tudor) be part of the break. Onto the Sorèze climb (86.6km), a break from the break emerged with Campenaerts, Wellens, Mohorič, Lutsenko, Powless, Simmons and Storer. Behind them, an enormous chasing group fashioned with 28 rider, together with Alaphilippe, Van Aert and Van der Poel and others. Among the many chasers, Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers) managed to affix the entrance group at 86km. Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) copied him at 110km, after which Alexandr Vlasov (Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Warren Barguil (Workforce Picnic PostNL) at 113km.
Wellens now has the Grand Tour stage win full set: Giro, Tour and Vuelta
Wellens flies away
Storer destroyed this group by attacking on the primary slopes of the Pas du Sant (114km). He’s adopted by Simmons, after which Wellens and Campenaerts. The 4 attackers reached the summit collectively. After the climb, they’re joined by Vlasov, Lutsenko, Barguil and Rodriguez with 44 kilometres to go. Proper after the junction, Wellens attacked. His rivals can’t observe the Belgian, who opens a spot of greater than a minute en path to Carcassonne. Behind him, the chase teams get again collectively. Campenaerts assaults contained in the final 2 kilometres to take the 2nd place forward of Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) in third.
Victor Campenaerts Victor dropped the break for second place
Stage winner, Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates XRG): “I do know that tomorrow is Belgium’s nationwide vacation, however it’s a relaxation day, so it’s good to win at present. It was an ideal stage and we would have liked somebody from the group on the entrance with such an enormous breakaway. And truly, the toughest half was stepping into the proper breakaway. Then on the finish, there have been just a few of us left and I needed to decide as a result of I knew I wouldn’t win if I completed in a small group. I believe Victor Campenaerts knew that we had been the 2 strongest riders, so it was higher to assault him on a piece that was nonetheless climbing a bit of. Clearly, it’s my finest victory. There’s nothing higher than profitable a stage of the Tour de France, and it means much more with the Belgian champion’s jersey. It’s true that I’ve modified since I used to be a rider a number of years in the past, however I believe that’s primarily as a result of I’m now working in the most effective group on this planet. That has modified my profession. My solely purpose is for Tadej [Pogacar] to maintain the Yellow Jersey, that’s why we got here right here and every little thing goes properly thus far. It’s an honour to work for him and this victory is a bonus, however I didn’t come right here with the thought of becoming a member of the membership of winners of the three Grand Excursions.”
Alaphilippe appeared very comfortable along with his third place
Total chief, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates XRG): “I’m so comfortable that Tim [Wellens] has gained. He’s one in every of my finest domestiques all year long. He works so exhausting within the classics, and throughout the coaching camps, and this month too for me to maintain the Yellow Jersey. It was wonderful to observe the final 45 kilometres of stage over the group radio as he was gaining time on his chasers. I’m happier along with his win than I really feel when it’s me profitable. He obtained a chance and he made essentially the most of it. It’s wonderful. The state of affairs after the crash early within the stage was fairly bizarre. I knew Jonas [Vingegaaard] had been caught behind, so each me and Tim tried to calm issues down for him and the remainder of the fellows to bridge again. The breakaway was being arrange, and there have been three Visma guys on the entrance. I used to be comfortable for one or two of them to go clear, however not all three of them – so I made a decision to all the time chase down the third man. If I used to be Jonas, I wouldn’t be pleased with how the group rode at that time. He’s 2nd general and has confirmed his price again and again. After all stage wins are good, however the GC is necessary too. Our foremost and solely purpose on this Tour de France is to maintain this Yellow Jersey protected. There’s not a particular stage that we’ve singled out to say one other stage victory. Jonas confirmed yesterday that he’s racing at such a excessive degree and we are able to anticipate him to assault us within the mountains. The second week often options the better mountains, and is inclined for breakaways to succeed. This 12 months’s, although, has been the hardest I’ve ever ridden due to the situations and the terrain. I’m pleased with how issues stand and the gaps are already massive, however we are able to’t calm down – there are seven days to go. Relaxation day plans? Urska [Zigart] is coming to go to me, and I’m tremendous comfortable about it. I hope I gained’t have too many obligations aside from a simple spin with the boys. I gained’t even dream of Mont Ventoux, so I can maintain some vitality for the true factor.”
Relaxation day on Monday. Stage 16 on Tuesday finishes on the ‘Big of Provence’ – Mont Ventoux. From the village of Bédoin and the observatory overlooking the end line, there are 15.7km of climbing, averaging 8.7%
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Tour de France Stage 15 Consequence:
1. Tim Wellens (Bel) UAE Emirates XRG in 3:34:09
2. Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike at 1:28
3. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Tudor at 1:36
4. Wout van Aert (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
5. Axel Laurance INEOS Grenadiers
6. Aleksander Vlasov (-) Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe
7. Paul Penhoët (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
8. Jordan Jegat (Fra) TotalEnergies
9. Michael Valgren Andersen (Fra) EF Training-EasyPost
10. Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ.
Tour de France Total After Stage 15:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Emirates XRG in 54:20:44
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma | Lease a Bike at 4:13
3. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 7:53
4. Oscar Onley (GB) Workforce Picnic PostNL at 9:18
5. Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Inns at 10:21
6. Primož Roglič (Slo) Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 10:34
7. Felix Gall (Aust) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale at 12:00
8. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 12:33
9. Carlos Rodríguez Cano (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 18:26
10. Ben Healy (Irl) EF Training-EasyPost at 18:41.
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