Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) crossed the line alone on Stage 15 of the Tour de France on Sunday. The win in Le Puy-en-Velay marked his first ever Tour de France stage win. Chasing 19 seconds back was Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) and Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal).
The final selection came from a 28-rider breakaway that rolled on the first climb of the day, the Montée de Naves d’Aubrac. Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin) went away with a solo attempt 60 kilometers out, but was overcome on the final category 1 ascent by the more proficient climbers in the move behind.
GC leader Chris Froome’s Team Sky had no intentions of bringing the large selection back, as the highest-placed rider within the move, Damiano Caruso (BMC) was over 11 minutes down.
A savage race would also play out within the main field. Approaching the Montée de Naves d’Aubrac, Ag2r La Mondiale took the front and set a fast tempo into the lower slopes of the climb.
Froome quickly found himself distanced due to a positioning error but made it back quickly with the help of his Sky teammates. Moments later, he had a rear flat and stopped roadside for a wheel swap with teammate Michal Kwiatkowski. This time the GC group had left him behind by almost a minute. Again, Froome had teammates with him who aided in his ultimate return to the field.
After what were surely back to back moments of panic for the three-time Tour winner, Sky proved its collective prowess in handling critical situations within the GC battle as Froome regained contact. Landa, after his controversial Stage 12 distancing of team leader Froome, dropped back from the group of GC contenders and was critical in Froome’s return to the group.
After multiple attempts to create separation between himself and the GC group, tenacious Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) finally succeeded in rolling off on the final short ascent of the Côte de Saint-Vidal. His efforts awarded him 14 seconds over the GC group at the line, moving him up to fifth in the GC, 1:12 down.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) had a rough day, losing almost four minutes in the GC battle and moving down to 11th overall.
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- Before the stage, Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) contemplated his love for the team bus’ espresso machine.
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- Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) readied himself for the day ahead. Yates finished in the Froome group, not succumbing any time in the white jersey competition.
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- As usual, team Sky controlling things. They’ve gotten quite a bit of practice this Tour. The final substantial climb on the day would test their organization and strength, however.
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- The roads of the Massif Central, the range traversed by Stage 15, are where Romain Bardet fell in love with cycling.
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- Serge Pauwels (Dimension Data) has proven himself as a contending climber at this Tour.
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- An early version of the day’s breakaway.
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- A great depiction of how dreams begin.
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- Chris Froome (Sky) rejoined the main group of contenders on the final substantial climb after an untimely mechanical.
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- Warren Barguil (Sunweb) pushed the tempo on the final category 1 ascent of the Montée de Naves d’Aubrac.
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- Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) successfully attacked the descent.
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- Mollema crossed the line with 20 seconds over his two chasers, Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) and Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal)
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- John Degenkolb of Trek-Segafredo ruminated on his tough day in the mountains.
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- The winning team of Trek-Segafredo celebrated Mollema’s win with burgers, frites and champagne.