Tour de France: Wout Poels wins stage 15 as Jonas Vingegaard retains overall lead

Wout Poels celebrated his first career grand tour stage win as the slopes of Mont Blanc failed to find any difference between Tour de France leader Jonas Vingegaard and his rival Tadej Pogacar.

Poels (35) was the last survivor of a big breakaway group that got clear after a crash caused by a spectator reshaped the 179km stage 15 from Les Gets to Saint-Gervais.

Six minutes after the Bahrain-Victorious rider crossed the line, Vingegaard and Pogacar came home shoulder to shoulder, with Vingegaard’s advantage in yellow remaining at 10 seconds going into Monday’s rest day.

Pogacar was guided towards the summit by team-mate Adam Yates but then gradually let the wheel go, seemingly unable to follow as Vingegaard stayed in his shadow.

The easing of pace allowed Saturday’s winner Carlos Rodriguez to ride back to the pair, with Vingegaard moving on to the Spaniard’s wheel.

Pogacar was planning one more attack, but as the Slovenian burst forward just after the flamme rouge, he could not shake Vingegaard, with the Jumbo-Visma rider drawing up alongside on the final bend to ensure he will start Tuesday’s time trial in yellow.

With Jai Hindley having faded, Rodriguez strengthened his grip on third place, with Yates moving up to fourth.

Asked if he had planned to drop Pogacar on the climb, Yates said: “Not really. We had a few issues with the radio. But I’m still high on (general classification) and if Tadej lets me go then Jumbo-Visma have to chase, so it’s kind of still in our favour.

“Today was unexpected, but these things add up over the three weeks.”

S'il vous plait, faites attention. Pour que la fête reste une fête pour les coureurs mais également pour vous. Pas besoin de portable pour se créer des souvenirs plein la tête.