Evenepoel Captures 15th Stage Victory as Pogacar Extends Lead Following Vingegaard’s Crash

Remco Evenepoel claimed victory in the 15th stage of the Tour de France at Plateau de Solaison, holding off teammate Isaac Del Toro and race leader Tadej Pogacar in a tight finish. The Belgian rider’s triumph marked his first stage win of this year’s competition and his third overall Tour victory. The 184-kilometer mountain stage concluded with a grueling ascent up the HC-category Plateau de Solaison climb in the French Alps.

Pogacar managed Del Toro’s late attacks over the final 800 meters before Evenepoel overtook both riders to cross the line first. Del Toro secured third place just seconds behind the winner, while Pogacar’s second-place finish preserved his commanding overall advantage. The four-time Tour champion now holds a five-minute cushion over Evenepoel in the general classification, with Del Toro, the 22-year-old Mexican climber, positioned third at 5:58 back from Pogacar.

Jonas Vingegaard’s crash approximately 20 kilometers before the finish effectively ended his chances in this year’s race, forcing the Danish rider to abandon the competition. Vingegaard lost control of his front wheel near a roadside kerb while descending, eliminating him as a significant threat to Pogacar’s pursuit of a fifth Tour title. Only Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Indurain, and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault have previously won the Tour five times.

A nine-rider breakaway group that included Olympic mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock and American Quinn Simmons formed early on the Col de la Croisette Category 1 climb. Pogacar caught Simmons with under 5 kilometers remaining on the final ascent, with only Del Toro and Evenepoel able to maintain contact with the race leader through the finish.

Nineteen-year-old French prospect Paul Seixas finished fourth on the stage and holds fourth place in the overall standings, 6:23 behind Pogacar. The rising talent rode near his grandparents’ home, located roughly 15 kilometers from the finish, having been introduced to cycling by his grandfather José Manuel Seixas as a youngster.

Tuesday’s 16th stage will feature an individual time trial format, presenting reigning Olympic and world time trial champion Evenepoel with a prime opportunity for another stage victory. Evenepoel captured last year’s Tour time trial with a dominant performance, positioning him as the favorite for Tuesday’s competition. The race will observe its second rest day on Monday before concluding on Paris’s Champs-Élysées on July 26.