Key events
And that’s it from me. Thank you very much for all your emails and for accompanying this amateur through stage 15, a day of bewildering drama which spelled the end of Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour.
A rest tomorrow and then the Alps await. Enjoy!
Updated at 12.30 EDT
Vingegaard crashes out of Tour before Evenepoel wins stage 15
Jeremy Whittle’s report is in:
Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the Tour de France on the approach to the Alpine climb of Plateau de Solaison, just hours after being woken up in the early hours of Sunday morning to undergo doping controls.
The double Tour champion, who also won this year’s Giro d’Italia, climbed gingerly into a race ambulance, his right arm in a sling, after falling as the main peloton exited a roundabout in Bonneville.
Both Vingegaard and race leader Tadej Pogacar were subjected to unexpected nocturnal doping controls prior to stage 15, as the race headed into the Savoyarde Alps. Vingegaard was tested at 2am by the ITA (International Testing Agency) and spoke about the experience before the stage began.
SharePogacar: the 2am doping call could have been a factor in crash
“We [he and Vingegaard] are competitors and also kind of friends. The tour will not be the same without him. It got me thinking that maybe you are little less concentrated after the [early doping]. I don’t blame that but it could be connected.”
“Remco sometimes needs a bit of a morale boost and today he was a rocket and is going to be a pain in the arse next week too.”
ShareThe GC standings
1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates XRG)
2. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), +5’00’’
3. Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates XRG), +5’58’’
4. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM), +6’23’’
5. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), +6’48’’
ShareThe stage 15 top ten finishers
1. Remco Evenepoel (BEL) Red Bull – BORA – 4:23:09
hansgrohe
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates – XRG “
3. Isaac Del Toro (MEX) UAE Team Emirates – XRG +6
4. Paul Seixas (FRA) Decathlon CMA CGM Team +58
5. Florian Lipowitz (GER) Red Bull – BORA – “
hansgrohe
6. Lenny Martinez (FRA) Bahrain Victorious +1:57
7. Mattias Skjelmose (DEN) Lidl – Trek “
8. Juan Ayuso (ESP) Lidl – Trek +2:00
9. Adam Yates (GBR) UAE Team Emirates – XRG “
10. Quinn Simmons (USA) Lidl – Trek +2:16
Updated at 12.10 EDT
In the TNT studio they’re mulling over those final few hundred metres.
They all seem sure that Pogacar could have won if he’d wanted to.”I think he didn’t because of Jonas. He never once accelerated, he didn’t get out of his saddle in the last 100m.”
ShareThe winning rider: Evenepoel
“It’s amazing, I’m literally trembling with emotion. It’s been a hell of a day . I was actually feeling really bad at the start but better and better during the day.
“I was racing with the best rider ever, it was great that I could follow his pace. I always get so many critics saying I cannot survive these climbs and it feels amazing. It means a lot. To win this beautiful stage was amazing, I was making efforts on the climb maybe 20 times on training camp.
“It is really bad news for Jonas and his team and the race that he’s out, something you never want for anyone.”
Isaac Del Toro congratulates Remco Evenepoel after the race. Photograph: Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 12.03 EDT
What a drama filled few hours. A big win for Evenepoel on unexpected terrain- the high mountains have always been his achilles heel.
The commentators speculate that Pogacar may not have wanted to win out of respect for Vingegaard, whose Tour has had a miserable end at the bottom of the plateau de Solsaison.
“That is a horrible way to end a tour,” writes Nick Wayne. “The poor man’s morale must be at rick bottom. I know everyone and their chainring were comparing him to Pog, but he was doing well enough to be on the podium. Whether that would have remained until Paris is now a pointless debate.
Wishing him a speedy recovery, and I hope he does sit out the Vuelta.”
Updated at 11.56 EDT
It was the nutella that did it!
ShareSeixas takes fourth
He powers in ahead of Lipowitz.
ShareEvenpoel wins stage 15!
A first road stage win of the Tour for Evenepoel! He charged with about 200m to go and Pogacar couldn’t catch him. Del Toro rolls in third.
Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel cycles to the finish line to win the 15th stage. Photograph: Loïc Venance/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 11.49 EDT
350m to go Uphill they go, wheel to wheel. Del Toro goes again, Evenpoel on his wheel, but here comes Pogacar….
1km to go Del Toro attacks, followed by Evenpoel!
1.3km to go Del Toro is riding his way into the white jersey and has made a miraculous recovery from the crash at the bottom of the mountain. The front three are still bunched together.
2km to go Pog looks over his shoulder. Evenepoel briefly takes a turn at the front but now the lead is back with the yellow jersey. Cow bells, flags, horns.
3km to go Pog, head down, leads the group of three. Seixas and Lipowitz are 33 seconds behind. The crowd applaud and urge them upwards.
3.5km to go Pidcock drifts backwards. Evenpoel looks better than Del Toro up with Pog at the front.
4km to go Seixas and Lipowitz drop Ayuso, and are now fourth and fifth.
4.6km to go Simmons has been hauled in and passed by. Yates drops back and Pogacar takes the lead, followed by teammate Del Toro and Evenepoel.
5.4km to go Yates is now leading Pogacar, Evenpoel and Del Toro. Pidcock has been dropped. Simmons still 16 seconds ahead.
6km to go Pogacar, Del Toro and Evenpoel have Yates, Pidcock and Voisard in their sights.
6.5km to go Lipowitz, Seixas and Ayuso have been dropped by the peloton. Pogacar acting as domestique for Del Toro. In the blink of an eye he’s reduced the deficit to 45 seconds behind Simmons
7.2km to go Pogacar is now setting the pace at the front of the peloton. Martinez has dropped off the back.
8km to go Schmid looks done. Simmons stretches his lead to 21 seconds over the Pidcock group, currently led by Yates.
Quinn Simmons of Lidl-Trek in action. Photograph: Guillaume Horcajuelo/EPAShare
Updated at 11.25 EDT
8.5km to go Simmons attacks, draws up to Schmid and goes ahead, to the pleasure of his watching dad. Pidcock’s group are 12 seconds behind. The peloton are gaining – 1.37 adrift.
9.5km to go Schmid pushes on. Pidcock licks his lips and leads the chasing group of Simmons and Voisard and Yates. And the gap drops to 10 seconds.
Felix Groschartner who was involved in the crash with Vingegaard is hurting. He swaps bikes and soldiers on.
10km to go Red Bull take over at the front of the peloton after a radio message. They’ve got 2.27 to catch and they’re starting to motor.
10km to go The final, brutal climb begins. Schmid has 28 seconds on the chasing group.
Many thanks to the Tour de France for this detail: With its impressive figures – 11.3 km of ascent with an average gradient of 9% -, the climb to Plateau de Solaison makes its debut in great fashion on the roads of the Tour de France.
It’s the 47th climb to be classified HC since the introduction of this category in 1979. That year, only Col du Galibier and L’Alpe d’Huez were HC.
The last climb to join the list of HC ascents was Col de Vars, in 2024, but it was far from being a novelty, having been previously classified as a cat. 1 or even cat. 2 ascent. The most recent HC climb introduced in the Tour is the Col de la Loze, with the different sides used since 2020.
Swiss cyclist Mauro Schmid of Team Jayco AlUla in action. Photograph: Guillaume Horcajuelo/EPAShare
Updated at 11.19 EDT
14km to go While Vingegaard’s Tour was coming to a painful close, the race shapeshifted. The lead at the front has grown. Schmid has 19 seconds over Group Pidcock and 2.53 to the peloton.
Vingegaard went down coming into a tight corner, his front wheel clippping a kerb. As he climbs into the ambulance, his right arm is in a sling. The commentators immediately bring up that 2am drug test.
Updated at 11.46 EDT
Vingegaard is out of the race
Ah no. He’s being packed into an ambulance and that’s the end of his Tour. Del Toro was involved in the crash too, but got back up quickly.
Updated at 11.06 EDT
A crash
Vingegaard is down.
23km to go Schmid is maintaining his lead of 18 seconds over Group Pidcock. One minute 17 behind are Baudin, Paret-Peintre, Vauquelin and Van Wilder, while the Peloton push on adrift by 2’10”.
27km to go A field of liver and white cows lounge in a field as the leading group hurtle past – they’ve got about another 18k before they hit the imposing slopes of the Plateau de Solaison. But they’re losing time on the peloton who have hit beast mode – now 2.19 behind.
32km to go Schmid makes a break for glory, and rapidly has ten seconds on Pidcock. Further back, Campenaerts has dropped back and now leads the peloton for Visma.
Good afternoon William Preston!
“Normally, this is the best time of the year for me. Work wise, there’s a lot of people away on holiday so it’s quiet and I’d hit up ITV on the tellybox and really enjoy the days.
“This year, it’s only the superb coverage on this website, as the broadcasts are paywalled away, that makes the thrilling heroics of the breakaway come to life, or the peleton – a word I can never spell – getting a stomp on to close them down.
“It’s still the best thing in the world, but exists in words at the moment, and that’s also fine.”
It was a stinker of a decision wasn’t it. Hope we can help fill a few of a gaps.
36km to go Simmons takes over the pace-making briefly, tries to grab a bottle of water but can’t holds on and darts a dirty look at the responsible team-member. Schmid and Costiou have rejoined the lead group. The lead group hurl themselves over the penultimate climb with KOM points for Pidcock (2) and Simmons (1).
40km to go The category three Cote du Mont awaits. The lead group of five – Yates, Pidcock, Simmons, Rubio and Voisard – digs into the 7.6 per cent slope. Costiou is 8 seconds behind them, Schmid 19, and the peloton adrift by 2 mins 53.
“Just for Matt Pennifold’s query on the ‘fun’ jersey,” writes Guy Hornsby. “ I’m with him there, though I guess it depends on your definition of fun. My vote would go to Paret-Peintre, who always seems to be in the action. Also, a massive wistful shout to the ‘Combination’ jersey, which had a beautiful but short-lived life until 1989. That always takes me back to the glorious era of Lemond, Fignon et al. A different time.”
Updated at 10.37 EDT
45km to go Rowdily enthusiastic crowds are five deep at the summit. Simmons takes the maximum KOM points, followed by Pidcock (8), Voisard (6), Yates (4), Rubio (2) and Costiou (1). But Simmons has been caught, with Pidcock on the charge on the descent.
Quinn Simmons of Lidl-Trek greets a spectator. Photograph: Guillaume Horcajuelo/EPAShare
Updated at 10.39 EDT
48km to go Simmons’s gap is now 15 seconds over Pidcock’s group. He’s got 500m to the summit. And he’s putting time into the peloton as well – now 3’08” behind.
49km to go Van Wilder and Schmid are faltering at the back of the leading group. And now Simmons attacks with gusto! He’s soon got three, four, five metres on Pidcock.
Hello Alistair Connor:“You’ve got to admire his persistence, but the conventional wisdom says Pidcock should concentrate on improving his overall place, because he is too highly ranked to be allowed à breakaway stage win. I think it’s just his temperament, which is no doubt better suited to one-day races.”
51km to go Pidcock still at the front as they squeeze past the throngs of spectators at a horrifying 12 per cent gradient. The peloton are still 2.42 behind, led with gumption by Visma lease a bike.
Britain’s Tom Pidcock, right, and Quinn Simmons of the U.S., second from right, ride in the break away group. Photograph: Mosa’ab Elshamy/APShare
Updated at 10.31 EDT
52km to go Pidcock hits the front and pulls apart the lead group. Both Visma riders are now dropped, but Yates is still holding on at the back.
52km to go “With the steep climbs we’ve got coming, it is every man for himself,” say TNT. People are dropping off the front group including Healy. They’re going hard at the front of the lead group, but the peloton are gaining.
55km to go Things are about to get tough. The riders start the 4.6km climb at an average of 11 per cent gradient – the Col de la Croisette. Van Moer is riding hard at the front of the breakaway, Pidcock is on his shoulder. Nearly two minutes between them and the peloton.
The peloton cycle to the Col de la Croisette. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 10.52 EDT
61km to go Vinokurov is caught.
”Musing over whether there should a jersey for the rider having the most fun” writes Matt Pennifold, “but I suspect that Poge would win this as well.”
I love this idea, but what colour would it be? It is hard to out-fun the polka-dots. I’ll throw Pidcock and Carapaz into the ring too.
65km to go Vinokurov makes another break for freedom. In the front pack one of the riders has radioed to say no-one in the group wants to work with Pidcock.
Updated at 09.52 EDT
68km to go I can tell you, thanks to the commentators, that this region of France is very famous for its plums. A juicy one for Tom Pidcock who in the virtual GC standings has moved up to fourth – though he is very unlikely to be there at the end of this race. The front group still have a 2 mins 28 gap.
Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team’s British rider Tom Pidcock (2nd R) cycles in a breakaway. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 09.51 EDT
70km to go A morning interview with Evenpoel, who we learn had one big spoon of Nutella for breakfast. It’s currently powering him along in the peloton, who trail the leading pack by 2 mins 50.
On they go, past a chalked Appuie Bon Dieu across the road. The sun is out, the energy high
78 km to go The break has a 2 mins 2o buffer as I type. They have, I think, just entered the beautiful departement of Haute-Savoire.
“Afternoon Tanya,” lovely to hear from you James, (travelling back from Norwich.)
”Interesting to see the usual suspects (Pidcock, Healy et al.) in the breakaway again today. Whilst their bravery is to be commended, I can’t help but feel that these repeated efforts are somewhat futile when facing the sheer artillery of Team UAE. They’re like a two-wheeled ‘Light Brigade’, charging into Pogacar and UAE’s valley of Death.”
Half a league onward – I love the fearlessness of it, despite the inevitability of UAE. It must take some mentality to do that.
A vehicle from the Tour de France’s publicity caravan drives past mountain pastures near the finish area of the 15th stage. Photograph: Loïc Venance/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 11.28 EDT
81km to go Romain Bardet thinks that the breakaway “is a tactical move from most of the GC teams. [The final climb] is one of the most brutal climbs on the TDF. To have a teammate in the front group will be a massive advantage.”
Visma and UAE are at the front of the peloton.
87km to go The wide beautiful waters of the Rhone accompany the breakaway, which now has one minute 40 on the peloton. A 4km 3 per cent gradient climb on the way. And things are relatively gentle until the Col de la Croisette rises in about 40km.
91km to go The break suddenly has a minute and rising on the peloton
Tobias Johannessen, who was riding his brother’s bike after an earlier puncture, gets his own bike back
98km to go Vinokurov has been caught by a group including Healy, Paret-Peintre, Pidcock, Bernal, Rubio and some satellite riders for the big teams. They are now 15 seconds ahead of the peloton.
101km to go Nico Vinokurov, the Kazakhstan national champion, has made a lone break, and he’s putting his foot down. He’s 10 seconds ahead of the pack.
Nicolas Vinokurov before his breakaway. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 09.30 EDT
105km to go Well played EF education! They’ve wheeled in the breakaway for their man Carapaz. Meanwhile, Jan Tratnik gets a new bike.
Solid Pogacar love from Nick Wayne. “First the endless GOAT superlatives then the booing. C’mon people, make your mind up. IMHO he’s an amazing and admirable cyclist. Loved or not, he races clean and that’s the bottom line.”
109km to go There aren’t too many spectators at this stage, odd handfuls of people who look as if they’ve pottered out from their front door five minutes before the train screams past. The group at the front still have 20 seconds on the chasing pack, with EF education working hard to join in.
119 km to go “We need Carapaz in the breakaway today for KOM points,’” says the EF team radio. And the pink shirts lead the peloton.
124 km to go Two becomes ten. Oliveira, Matthews, Schmid, A. Johannessen, Skaarseth, Van Dijke, Garcia Pierna and Izagirre have joined Arensman and Azparren up at the front. They’ve got nine seconds on the peloton.
Philip Terry has been wrapping his head around Sunday afternoon speculation. “What if…Pogi wins today and puts more time between himself and Jonas then turns superdomestique to ensure second place for Del Toro? Well, it’s a hot lazy afternoon in France and time for an after lunch ponder!”
The riders in action during the 15th stage. Photograph: Guillaume Horcajuelo/EPAShare
Updated at 08.42 EDT