Belgian cyclist Tim Wellens is the winner of today's 15th stage of the Tour de France, and the lead in the overall standings was retained by his Emirates teammate Tadej Pogačar from Slovenia.
Velens won the 169,3-kilometer stage from Mireaux to Carcassonne in three hours, 34 minutes and nine seconds. He crossed the finish line solo, after breaking away from his rivals 43 kilometers from the finish line, and is one of Pogačar's most important teammates in helping him retain the leader's yellow jersey.
This is Velens' first stage win at the Tour, and he previously won stages at the Vuelta and Giro d'Italia.
"If any rider deserves to win the Tour de France, it's Tim Velens. He's so dedicated to Tadeo, he's always by his side, five centimetres from his wheel, protecting him in the race, in training camp, all the time," said UAE team manager Mauro Giannetti.
Belgian from Visma team Tim Kampenarts took second place, one minute and 28 seconds behind.
French cyclist Julien Alaphilippe of the Tudor team won third place in the sprint against Belgian Wout van Art of Visma and crossed the finish line one minute and 36 seconds behind the winner.
Pogačar and his closest rivals, Dane Jonas Vinegor from Visma, finished the stage in a large group of riders six minutes and seven seconds behind.
Current champion Pogačar is first in the overall standings with a time of 54:20,44 hours and has a 4:13 minute lead over Vinegor and German Florian Lipovic from Red Bull Bora, who is 7:53 minutes behind.
Monday is a day off at the Tour d'France, and the race continues on Tuesday with the mountainous 16th stage from Montpellier to Mont Ventoux, 171,5 kilometers long.
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