21-07-2025, 09:10
Belgian champion Tim Wellens claimed his first Tour de France stage victory with a breakaway win on stage 15.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has worked for race leader Tadej Pogacar in the opening two weeks of the Tour but, freed from his domestique duties for the day, attacked on the final climb of the hilly 169.3km ride from Muret to Carcassonne.
The 34-year-old ultimately won by one minute 28 seconds, with fellow Belgian Victor Campenaerts second and French two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe third.
Pogacar crossed six minutes later in the peloton to maintain his lead of four minutes 13 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard in the general classification.
Wellens' victory was is a fifth stage win for UAE during this year's race, with reigning champion Pogacar claiming the other four.
"It is a very special victory," said Wellens. "Everybody knows the Tour de France but not many people win in the Tour de France, so it was very beautiful."
After three gruelling days in the Pyrenees mountains, the 166 remaining riders faced a transitional stage before the second and final rest day of this year's Tour in Montpellier.
The stage looked set for a breakaway win and Wellens sensed his opportunity on the last of the three categorised climbs, up the Pas du Sant 55km from the line.
Wellens emerged from a lead group of eight on the ascent, along with Michael Storer, Quinn Simmons and Campeanaerts.
The group briefly reformed on the long descent to Carcassone but, moments later, Wellens attacked with 44km to go and the chasers never looked like closing the gap.
"I felt super good," Wellens added. "On the last climb of the day I felt really good. I knew the others felt really good but I knew I had to go solo. At the top of the climb I found my moment and I felt I had the legs to keep it to the end.
"I knew I had to enjoy the moment and kept riding until the finish line because I wanted a big gap to enjoy it and maybe put my bike in the air after the finish - but I was so happy I forgot to do it."
Three-time Tour winner Pogacar added: "I am more happy for him than when I win. Beyond happiness."
The race resumes on Tuesday with a 171.5km ride from Montpellier and ending with a mammoth climb up Mont Ventoux.
Pogacar said: "This week was one of the hardest second weeks of the Tour that I have ridden because of the terrain, the time trial on the climb [on Friday] and yesterday with 5,000m of elevation [gain].
"The gap is now big but we still have big mountains to come. We need to fight until the end."
Stage 15 results
Tim Willens (Bel/UAE Emirates XRG) 3hrs 34mins 9secs
Victor Campenaerts (Bel/Visma-Lease a bike) +1min 28secs
Julian Alaphilippe (Fra/Tudor) +1min 36secs
Wout Van Aert (Bel/Visma-Lease a bike) Same time
Axel Laurance (Fra/Ineos Grenadiers)
Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
Jasper Stuyven (Bel/Lidl-Trek)
Jordan Jegat (Fra/TotalEnergies)
Michael Valgren (Den/EF Education-EasyPost)
Valentin Madouas (Fra/Groupama-FDJ)
General classification after stage 15
Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Emirates-XRG) 54hrs 20mins 44secs
Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +4mins 13secs
Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +7mins 53secs
Oscar Onley (GB/Picnic PostNL) +9mins 18secs
Kevin Vauquelin (Fra/Arkea-B&B Hotels) +10mins 21secs
Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +10mins 34secs
Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +12mins
Tobias Johannessen (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +12mins 33secs
Carlos Rodriguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) +18mins 26secs
Ben Healy (Ire/EF Education-EasyPost) +18mins 41secs
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has worked for race leader Tadej Pogacar in the opening two weeks of the Tour but, freed from his domestique duties for the day, attacked on the final climb of the hilly 169.3km ride from Muret to Carcassonne.
The 34-year-old ultimately won by one minute 28 seconds, with fellow Belgian Victor Campenaerts second and French two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe third.
Pogacar crossed six minutes later in the peloton to maintain his lead of four minutes 13 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard in the general classification.
Wellens' victory was is a fifth stage win for UAE during this year's race, with reigning champion Pogacar claiming the other four.
"It is a very special victory," said Wellens. "Everybody knows the Tour de France but not many people win in the Tour de France, so it was very beautiful."
After three gruelling days in the Pyrenees mountains, the 166 remaining riders faced a transitional stage before the second and final rest day of this year's Tour in Montpellier.
The stage looked set for a breakaway win and Wellens sensed his opportunity on the last of the three categorised climbs, up the Pas du Sant 55km from the line.
Wellens emerged from a lead group of eight on the ascent, along with Michael Storer, Quinn Simmons and Campeanaerts.
The group briefly reformed on the long descent to Carcassone but, moments later, Wellens attacked with 44km to go and the chasers never looked like closing the gap.
"I felt super good," Wellens added. "On the last climb of the day I felt really good. I knew the others felt really good but I knew I had to go solo. At the top of the climb I found my moment and I felt I had the legs to keep it to the end.
"I knew I had to enjoy the moment and kept riding until the finish line because I wanted a big gap to enjoy it and maybe put my bike in the air after the finish - but I was so happy I forgot to do it."
Three-time Tour winner Pogacar added: "I am more happy for him than when I win. Beyond happiness."
The race resumes on Tuesday with a 171.5km ride from Montpellier and ending with a mammoth climb up Mont Ventoux.
Pogacar said: "This week was one of the hardest second weeks of the Tour that I have ridden because of the terrain, the time trial on the climb [on Friday] and yesterday with 5,000m of elevation [gain].
"The gap is now big but we still have big mountains to come. We need to fight until the end."
Stage 15 results
Tim Willens (Bel/UAE Emirates XRG) 3hrs 34mins 9secs
Victor Campenaerts (Bel/Visma-Lease a bike) +1min 28secs
Julian Alaphilippe (Fra/Tudor) +1min 36secs
Wout Van Aert (Bel/Visma-Lease a bike) Same time
Axel Laurance (Fra/Ineos Grenadiers)
Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
Jasper Stuyven (Bel/Lidl-Trek)
Jordan Jegat (Fra/TotalEnergies)
Michael Valgren (Den/EF Education-EasyPost)
Valentin Madouas (Fra/Groupama-FDJ)
General classification after stage 15
Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Emirates-XRG) 54hrs 20mins 44secs
Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +4mins 13secs
Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +7mins 53secs
Oscar Onley (GB/Picnic PostNL) +9mins 18secs
Kevin Vauquelin (Fra/Arkea-B&B Hotels) +10mins 21secs
Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +10mins 34secs
Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +12mins
Tobias Johannessen (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +12mins 33secs
Carlos Rodriguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) +18mins 26secs
Ben Healy (Ire/EF Education-EasyPost) +18mins 41secs
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?