Wellens wins Stage 15 to underscore UAE’s Tour control

CARCASSONNE, France :Tim Wellens overpowered his breakaway companions in brutal fashion to claim victory on Stage 15 of the Tour de France, offering yet another sign - if one was needed - of UAE Team Emirates-XRG's iron grip on the race.

The Belgian national champion, one of defending champion and overall leader Tadej Pogacar's domestiques, jumped away from a leading group of six some 43 kilometres from the finish and never looked back, beating compatriot Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) by 1:28.

France's Julian Alaphilippe took third place, nine seconds further back.

"It's a very special victory, everybody wants to ride the Tour but not everybody wins on the Tour de France," said Wellens.

"Suddenly there was a big crash... I followed one move and I was in the breakaway.

"I had an opportunity, I took it and I had legs to finish it."

Wellens' master, Pogacar, still leads Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard by 4:13 in the overall standings, edging 169.3km closer to a fourth Tour title after the hilly ride between Muret and Carcassonne.

German Florian Lipowitz sits in third place, 7:53 off the pace.

"I'm actually happier than for any of my wins," said Pogacar, who added he was recovering from a sore throat.

"With all the ice we're having (to cool down from the heat) and the air conditioning, half of the peloton has a sore throat, it's a pain."

The top riders stayed quiet all day, Pogacar slowing down after Lipowitz and Vingegaard were caught up behind an early crash.

It was a hectic stage with relentless attacks from riders looking to capitalise on the rare opportunity of a victory as flat and mountain stages are the exclusive domain of top sprinters and general classification contenders.

The group who would fight for the win took