Tour de France 2022: Vingegaard crashes and Kruijswijk exits on stage 15 – live!

LIVE – Updated at 16:25

Rolling report: Join John Brewin for a day made for the sprinters in France.

20km to go: The approach to Carcassonne begins, with Quinn Simmons leading the Trek team’s effort at the front of the peloton. The pace is breakneck as the pack descends together, around 44km/h. The sprint finish seems the most likely outcome at this stage. The likes of Van Aert and Sagan are involved.

25km to go: Once over the brow of a small climb, the field flies along through the Aude region, with Groenwegen’s move to get back in touch likely to be successful. And there’s a chance that Thomas and Gougeard may stay away, too, though the heat seems approaching unbearable, with tar visibly melting at the side of the road. When the Bike-Exchange pack get their man on the back of the peloton, some of them drop off, their work done for the day. Then comes another crest of a hill, and at the head of the field, some flatter terrain for the leading pair to take on. The gap starts to drop to around 20 seconds.

30km to go: Alexis Gougeard and Benjamin Thomas have gone away from the front in search of a first French stage win of Le Tour. It’s been fallow ground for the host nation this year, the likes of Pinot, Barguil and Bardet all somewhat faded forces. They have around 30 seconds. It continues to be chaotic and uncertain. Michael Martin, Saturday’s winner, is back working for Bike-Exchange and Groenewegen.

35km to go: Groenewegen’s group just under a minute back on the peloton, including John Degenkolb, a former stage winner, and Paris-Roubaix winner, whose best days are probably behind him. He suffered this accident in 2016.

Per AFP

German sprint specialist John Degenkolb has undergone surgery to repair a deep cut on