CARCASSONNE, France — Tim Wellens surged ahead on the descent towards Carcassonne to win the 15th stage of the Tour de France on Sunday. Meanwhile, three-time champion Tadej Pogačar solidified his grip on the yellow jersey.
“I seized the moment and had the energy to finish strong. But of course, I’d trade my victory for a yellow jersey with Tadej in Paris,” Wellens said. This win marked Wellens’ first stage victory in the Tour and made him the 113th rider to achieve wins in all three Grand Tours.
Wellens crossed the finish line 1 minute and 28 seconds ahead of Victor Campeanaerts, with Julian Alaphilippe, Wout van Aert, and Axel Laurance trailing by 1:36. “I wanted to enjoy the moment, so I pushed hard to create a big gap. I forgot to celebrate at the finish,” he shared, revealing his excitement.
During the race, Wellens formed a leading group with Campeanaerts, Michael Storer, and Quinn Simmons. As they tackled the steep incline of Pas du Sant, he strategically waited for rivals Carlos Rodriguez, Warren Barguil, Aleks Vlasov, and Alexey Lutsenko before launching his attack with 43.5 kilometers to go. The descent gave him an edge, making it tough for his competitors to react.
While Alaphilippe celebrated what he thought was a stage win, he soon learned he finished third behind two other riders. Pogačar and his closest rivals, Jonas Vingegaard and Florian Lipowitz, crossed the line over six minutes behind Wellens. Pogačar maintained a solid overall lead of 4:13 over Vingegaard and 7:53 over Lipowitz.
This stage, spanning 169 kilometers from Muret to the historic city of Carcassonne, had a chaotic start. A crash in the peloton affected Alaphilippe and others, caused by a cobbled traffic island that caught some by surprise. Though Alaphilippe appeared to hurt his shoulder, he continued racing.
As the peloton struggled to regroup, Pogačar received a radio message to calm the pace and allow Vingegaard and Lipowitz to catch up. Eventually, they caught up to a breakaway group of 15 riders, including Wellens.
With the Tour concluding in Paris next weekend, the riders have a second rest day on Monday to recharge for the final push.
Notably, recent studies show that cycling events like the Tour de France not only promote physical health but also foster a sense of community. Social media trends have also highlighted cycling’s rising popularity, especially among younger audiences eager to engage in outdoor activities. According to a recent survey, nearly 60% of new cyclists cite events like the Tour as inspiration for picking up the sport. This growing interest may reshape the future of cycling, emphasizing the importance of events that bring people together on two wheels.
