Belgian rider Tim Wellens claimed his first Tour de France stage victory in a breakaway win on stage 15, which took place from Muret to Carcassonne. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider broke away on the final climb and ultimately won by one minute and 28 seconds. Fellow Belgian Victor Campenaerts secured second place, while French two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe finished third.
The stage victory marked a significant milestone for Wellens, who had worked as a domestique for race leader Tadej Pogacar in the opening weeks of the Tour. However, on this day, he was given the opportunity to shine and took it, attacking with 44km to go and never looking back.
Wellens’ victory was praised by his teammate Pogacar, who said that he was more happy for Wellens than when he himself won. The stage win marked a fifth stage victory for UAE Team Emirates this year, cementing their position as a dominant force in the Tour.
The general classification remains unchanged, with Pogacar maintaining his four-minute and 13-second lead over Jonas Vingegaard. The riders will face another challenging stage on Tuesday, featuring a 171.5km ride from Montpellier to Mont Ventoux.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/articles/c0rveexwegro