As it happened: Shock winner comes out on top as a pre-race favourite crashes out
On the eve of the second rest day, the peloton will tackle what promises to be another GC battle on stage 15, finishing atop the Plateau de Solaison
Salut and welcome to Cyclingnews' live updates of stage 15 at the Tour de France 2026!
Week two is coming to a close with a bang as the riders take on the second of the mountainous double headers to bring the curtain down on this week of racing. Here is the profile of the day.
The neutralised start is in around 10 minutes from Champagnole.
With the team presentation well underway in Champagnole we get to see a new name in the polka dot jersey. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep) jumped up three places in the KOM standings yesterday to slot just nine points behind Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), so the Frenchman wears the jersey on the race leader's behalf.
The first task of the day is the intermediate sprint at Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux. And with the green jersey standings so finely balanced, this will be well fought for.
Just 36 points split Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) with 50 points splitting Pedersen and Biniam Girmay (NSN). Just 90 points split the top four with Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) not out of it yet.
Here are the jerseys after stage 14
🏆 After the 14th stage:🏆 Après la 14ème étape :💛 @MaillotjauneLCL :🇸🇮 Tadej Pogacar 💛💚 Green jersey @WeLoveCyclingFR :🇩🇰 Mads Pedersen 💚🔴⚪️ @maillotapois :🇸🇮 Tadej Pogacar 🔴⚪️👶 White jersey @opticiens_krys :🇫🇷 Paul Seixas 👶#TDF2026 pic.twitter.com/lyN6Uy8YVkJuly 18, 2026
183.9km to go
Racing begins and immediately Alpecin-Premier Tech immediately take things up to try and set Jasper Philipsen up for the intermediate sprint in Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux.
Just 14km to the intermediate sprint. We have some uphill riding to do beforehand, though.
The peloton is strung out in one long line as Alpecin-Premier Tech pushes hard.
Silvan Dillier leads the way with Philipsen sits in third wheel.
For now, no-one is challenging Alpecin-Premier Tech on the front of the bunch.
10km to go to the intermediate sprint.
Alpecin-Premier Tech continue to lead as NSN move Girmay up as well as Lidl-Trek for Pedersen.
Toms Skujiņš (Lidl-Trek) tried an attack to take as many points away from Philipsen etc as possible but he was quickly dragged back.
2km to the intermediate sprint as multiple riders are now looking very twitchy as they will look to launch immediately after the intermediate sprint.
1.5km to the sprint and Lidl-Trek now come up alongside Alpecin-Premier Tech with NSN waiting alongside XDS-Astana as they work for Max Kanter.
The top 15 all take points with 25 the max ahead of 20, 16, 14, 12, 10 and then all the way down to 1 from there.
500 metres to go.
Jasper Philipsen wins the intermediate sprint in Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux after launching off the wheel of Mads Pedersen. That is another 5 points back for the Belgian making it just 31 points between them.
Kanter took third.
Attack
Julius van den Berg (Picnic-PostNL)
Unfortunately for him, he has Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) with him who looks to be there for a laugh. More moves, though.
Attack
Abel Balderstone (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost)
Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)
Nothing getting away yet.
Mechanical issue for Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and has changed his bike.
Attack
Warren Barguil (Picnic-PostNL)
It would've been fair to assume he had left the race as he has been anonymous but is on the move now with more riders coming across to him.
Intermediate sprint (Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux)
1. Philipsen(APT) 25 pts
2. Pedersen (LTK) 20 pts
3. Kanter (XAT) 16 pts
4. Girmay (NSN) 14 pts
5. Stewart (NSN) 12 pts
6. Rubio (MOV) 10 pts
7. Simmons (LTK) 9 pts
8. Planckaert (APT) 8 pts
9. Ballerini (XAT) 7 pts
10. Armirail (TVL) 6 pts
11. Rickaert (APT) 5 pts
12. Cepeda (MOV) 4 pts
13. Ganna (NCI) 3 pts
14. Stannard (TBV) 2 pts
15. Vacek (LTK) 1 pt
That move is brought back. And a new one goes with Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor).
Attack
Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor)
John Degenkolb (Picnic-PostNL)
Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious)
Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies)
Joris Delbove (TotalEnergies)
They don't have a huge gap, though. More riders will want to join as they are about to start the first categorised climb of the day, the Côte des Rousses (6.6km at 5.1%). Jayco-AlUla, Netcompany-Ineos and Movistar chasing behind.
Turgis dropped from the break as they start the Côte des Rousses.
Jan Tratnik (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) tried a move but is just dragging the peloton across the gap. Healy and Paret-Peintre up there as well as Netcompany-Ineos look to set up Thymen Arensman with a leadout from Josh Tarling.
Merlier being dropped off the back of the peloton. This will be a very long day for him and a big worry for Soudal-Quickstep as they hope to get the three time stage winner at this race through the day. Another stage winner, Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility), is with him.
This is all together again but new moves come as Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) appears for the first time. Georg Steinhauser is trying to help his teammate.
Attack
Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
He has Nicolas Vinokurov (XDS-Astana) bridges the gap.
Biniam Girmay now dropped from the peloton.
Puncture
Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM)
He gets a rear wheel change. Very calm and collected from the white jersey wearer. The youngest wearer of a leader's jersey ever at the Tour de France.
That break is back together yet again. Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) and Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) the next to try.
Castrillo catches Azparren as Paret-Peintre flies out of the peloton and across the gap with 500 metres to the top of the climb.
Carapaz is trying to bridge the gap with the peloton in tow.
Valentin Paret-Peintre wins the first KOM of the day on the Côte des Rousses ahead of Carapaz.
Attack
Arensman (NCI)
Azparren (PQT)
After the Côte des Rousses, 🇳🇱 Thymen Arensman and 🇪🇸 Xabier Azparren are leading the race. They’re about ten seconds ahead of the peloton! Après la Côte des Rousses, 🇳🇱 Thymen Arensman et 🇪🇸 Xabier Azparren roulent en tête de course. Ils comptent une dizaine de secondes… pic.twitter.com/GaTufr61DBJuly 19, 2026
Several riders out of the back after that first climb with the majority of the sprinters gone.
Tobias Halland Johannessen (UXM) getting involved in trying to make a move in the peloton as well as Matteo Jorgenson (TVL). All the big climbing names no longer involved in the GC tussle.
Magnus Cort trying to drag T. Johannessen away from the peloton.
This break still isn't properly away with Arensman and Azparren riding well together but still the peloton is battling behind. About 20 riders get a gap but it will be back together again.
Just 10" split these two from the peloton as they begin descending.
Pogačar was thinking about letting the break go for the win today, but at this rate the break won't have gone by the time they're on the final few climbs and the yellow jersey will surely then go for a 5th win of this race. He will go within single figures of Mark Cavendish's record.
Movistar's Nelson Oliveira is off the front of the peloton as he tries to bridge to Arensman and Azparren.
A new counter attack comes out of the peloton:
Mauro Schmid (JAY)
Tobias Johannessen (UXM)
Raul Garcia Pierna (MOV)
Ion Izagirre (COF)
Anders Skaarseth (UXM)
Michael Matthews (JAY)
Tim van Dijke (RBH)
They join Arensman, Azparren and Oliveira. Just 10" back to the peloton.
It is long rolling terrain now until they get to the Le Salève-Col de la Croisette, a very steep category 1 climb that comes with about 52km to go. 123km to go currently.
On sprinter watch, Philipsen, Wærenskjold, Kanter, Kooij and a few others are at 1'19" off the back of the peloton whereas Merlier is at 3'40".
Attack in peloton
Ben Healy (EFE)
Marco Haller (TUD)
Julian Alaphilippe (TUD)
Marc Hirschi (TUD)
But the peloton stay with them as the gap is now at 23" up to the break.
The pace is absolutely rapid out on course with one and a half hours almost complete, the average speed sits at 47kph.
EF Education-EasyPost have completely missed the move and are now working flat out in the peloton for Carapaz to try and bridge the gap on the next climb.
Breakaway caught by the peloton after a huge amount of work done by EF Educaiton-EasyPost.
🔚 Mission accomplished for @EFprocycling, who have caught the breakaway. The fight for the breakaway can continue!🔚 Mission accomplie pour les @EFprocycling qui ont repris l'échappée. Tout est à refaire à présent !#TDF2026 pic.twitter.com/fwYUA5tXP9July 19, 2026
Carapaz tries to go but Paret-Peintre is glued to his wheel. Jorgenson and Healy also involved in these new moves.
Tim Wellens (UAX) has been dropped by the peloton. He seems to be on a rough day.
100km to go
A new group goes clear including Carapaz and they bridge across to Vinokurov who waits for them to join him.
Current breakaway:
Egan Bernal (NCI)
Quinn Simmons (LTK)
Tom Pidcock (PQT)
Adam Yates (UAX)
Ilan Van Wilder (SOQ)
Yannis Voisard (TUD)
Kevin Vauquelin (NCI)
Einer Runio (MOV)
Raul Garcia Pierna (MOV)
Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet (GFC)
Alex Baudin (EFE)}
Mauro Schmid (JAY)
Aurelien Paret-Peintre (DCT)
Alexandre Delettre (TEN)
Ben Healy (EFE)
Victor Campenaerts (TVL)
Ewen Costiou (GFC)
Bruno Armirail (TVL)
Matej Mohoric (TBV)
Brent Van Moer (PQT)
Marco Frigo (NSN)
Nicolas Vinokurov (XAT)
Tim van Dijke (RBH)
Abel Balderstone (CJR) drags himself across the gap and joins the leaders as they have 1'35" over the peloton as they come to the next climb very soon and it is a brute.
80km to go
The break get about 2 and a half minutes on the peloton but they aren't working together well for the moment. Oddly, UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma-Lease a Bike lead the chase in the peloton despite both having riders in the breakaway. The biggest danger to the GC in there is Pidcock at 7'59".
The riders working on the front of the peloton for UAE and Visma are Tim Wellens and Per Strand Hagenes.
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The break of 24 riders have 2'44" on the peloton with just over 70km to go.
Third day in a row that Pidcock has gone into the breakaway. He plummeted down from 4th to 9th after jumping up from 10th to 4th the day before that. Will he be doing another jump up today?
Vinokurov has gone off the front of the breakaway yet again. He is getting fed up with the break not working together and goes solo. He hasn't got much of a gap, though.
One rider is well off the back. Tom Van Asbroeck (NSN) is over 21 minutes down on the leaders. He is having an extremely tough day and is almost certain to miss the time cut.
Visma-Lease a Bike leads the peloton at 2'49" from the break. Immediately behind them is Netcompany-Ineos who are blocking for Bernal and Vauquelin in the break.
Edoardo Affini and Per Strand Hagenes are working hard to keep this break close for Jonas Vingegaard.
55km to go
The riders are about to start the next climb of the day, the cat 1 Le Salève - Col de la Croisette, this is 4.7km but has an average of 11.2%, a real brute that will certainly split the break and peloton alike.
Van Moer is working flat out for Pidcock in the breakaway now as they head to Le Salève - Col de la Croisette.
Matthews was dropped out of the break, into the peloton and out of the back into the grupetto.
Healy dropped from the break along with Van Dijke and Mohoric.
Van Moer has done all he can for Pidcock and leaves the Brit to work alone with the rest of the break sat on his wheel.
Both Campenaerts and Armirail dropped by the pace in the break as is Bernal.
Vauquelin, Baudin, A. Paret-Peintre and more all being dropped by the pace being set by Pidcock.
Back in the peloton, Pedersen sits up and will go at his own pace to the finish.
Isaac Del Toro right at the back of the peloton with Felix Großschartner alongside him. He does this a lot but still worth keeping an eye on.
And as soon as the cameras show him at the back, he moves up through the group.
50km to go
Pidcock continues to lead with just 7 riders able to follow from the 23 that were with him at the bottom.
The first few kilometres of the climb up the Salève are taking their toll on many of the riders in the breakaway! There were 24 of them at the start; now there are fewer than 10 left at the front! 💨Les premiers kilomètres pour monter au Salève font mal à beaucoup d'hommes dans… pic.twitter.com/kyljk0L3cpJuly 19, 2026
Van Wilder is dropped by the break along with Schmid.
Attack in break
Quinn Simmons (LTK)
Rubio and Costiou set off in chase as Pidcock leads Voisard and Yates.
Costiou and Rubio have been reeled back in by Pidcock, Voisard and Yates but Simmons still leads and by 14"!
Back in the peloton, Davide Piganzoli leads for Vingegaard. The gap remains the same, though. 3'03" gap.
Costiou is dropped by the Pidcock group as Simmons is close to cresting the climb.
Simmons goes over the top but he is about to get company as Pidcock and co are about to rejoin him.
Pidcock is first to get back onto Simmons' wheel before Voisard, Yates and Rubio also rejoin the US champion.
KOM (Le Salève - Col de la Croisette)
1. Simmons (LTK) 10pts
2. Pidcock (PQT) 8pts
3. Voisard (TUD) 6pts
4. Yates (UAX) 4pts
5. Rubio (MOV) 2pts
6. Costiou (GFC) 1pt
Pidcock is virtually back on the podium again but this will definitely change.
Right at the back of the race an error to correct, Van Asbroeck is with Tim Merlier and Pascal Eenkhoorn who are 15'49" down on the leaders.
Onto the Côte du Mont goes the break and, interestingly, Yates comes through to work with Pidcock. The climb is 2.1km at 8.3%.
Pogačar and Vingegaard both had very very early morning doping tests to contend with last night...
Jorgenson has started working in the peloton. Out front, Schmid and Costiou make it back in again.
Bernal dropped out of the back of the peloton after being in the break.
Pidcock goes clear on a little kicker after the summit but didn't look deliberate as Pidcock finally gets a bidon after asking for one about 10 minutes ago.
Matt Riccitello (DCT) gets a bike change.
Back in the peloton, Victor Campenaerts is back and immediately goes to work for Vingegaard. But this is really strange tactics yet again from Visma-Lease a Bike.
Bruno Armirail also caught by the peloton, so Visma now have good numbers.
Out front, Schmid has 6" on the chasers then 2'34" back to the Visma led peloton.
Merlier, Eenkhoorn and Van Asbroeck may be in trouble today. They are almost 21 minutes down on the leaders.
The peloton are closing this gap with Campenaerts and Armirail doing all the damage on the valley road before the final climb.
Schmid is riding full gas here and has dragged his gap to 18" to the Pidcock group.
Crash!
Jonas Vingegaard (TVL)
Sepp Kuss (TVL)
Isaac Del Toro (UAX)
Brandon McNulty (UAX)
All up again aside from Vingegaard who has stayed on the ground.
The peloton has completely sat up, giving a huge chance to the breakaway, but terrible news for the race as he seems in a lot of discomfort.
Abandon
Jonas Vingegaard (TVL)
He leaves the Tour de France 2026 after his team has ridden all day for. The peloton now lose all their push and the break has a big chance.
Pogačar talking to his teammates and Visma riders for information as Piganzoli appeared to be angry with Del Toro.
Moments before the crash, Schmid very nearly went down in a crash and had to take dramatic evasive action with a bunny hop over the traffic island. A minute or so later and Vingegaard was down.
Schmid is still riding hard out front on his own but he is doomed once he gets onto the climb. He hold 19" on the Pidcock group and 2'47" to the peloton that are now led by Bahrain Victorious of Lenny Martinez.
Onto the final climb, the 11.3km Plateau de Solaison with an average of 9%.
Van Wilder, Vauquelin, A. Paret-Peintre and Baudin are about 30" in front of the peloton, they start the final climb as well and Vauquelin immediately sits up.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe takes up the pace setting in the peloton to limit the time to Pidcock and, ideally, even catch him.
10km to go
Schmid leads by 29" over Pidcock, Simmons, Voisard and Yates with Costiou and Rubio losing touch. The peloton at 2'18".
Yates looks to be struggling a bit as well in the break.
Aurelien Paret-Peintre is back in the peloton and is keen to help his leader, Seixas.
Mattia Cattaneo leads the peloton for Evenepoel and Lipowitz. They are now 2'01" behind Schmid who is about to be caught by Pidcock, Voisard, Simmons and Yates.
Attack in break
Quinn Simmons (LTK)
Schmid's time updates and is still out front but Simmons is about to join him. Pidcock still leads Voisard and Yates.
Simmons catches, passes and drops Schmid with 9km to go. He is on some climbing form for someone who is not a pure climber at all.
Pidcock, Voisard and Yates catch Schmid. They are at 15" from Simmons. 1'35" back to the peloton now.
Maxim Van Gils has finished his effort after Catteneo in the peloton handing over to Jai Hindley who sits in front of Lipowitz and Evenepoel.
Simmons seems inspired having his family at the race as his father waits for him on the final climb.
Yates comes through to the front of the chase shortly after Pogačar was on the radio.
Pogačar comes to the front and starts working for Del Toro as Hindley is dropped along with Carapaz, Skjelmose, Riccitello and Martinez.
Costiou caught by the GC group as Seixas, Lipowitz and Ayuso are all really struggling to follow Pogačar, Del Toro and Evenepoel.
Ayuso, Seixas and Lipowitz have all be distanced as they catch Schmid and Rubio.
Seixas and Ayuso are seeing the white jersey ride up the road as Del Toro is being dragged away by Pogačar. And Evenepoel is now looking excellent compared to teammate Lipowitz.
6km to go and Simmons has 24" on Pidcock, Yates and Voisard but Pogačar, Del Toro and Evenepoel are closing dramatically with Seixas, Ayuso and Lipowitz are losing a chunk of time here at about 30" from Pogačar and co.
5km to go
Simmons has 25" on Pogačar, Del Toro, Evenepoel and, now, Yates. 50" back to Seixas, Lipowitz and Ayuso with Pidcock and voisard somewhere in the gap.
Pidcock has been caught and dropped by Pogačar and co with him drifting back to Seixas' group.
This really could possibly be a UAE one-two-three on the stage.
Simmons caught by Yates, Pogačar, Del Toro and Evenepoel as Seixas, Lipowitz and Ayuso catch Pidcock and Voisard with the former trying to follow for now.
Yates goes pop and swings off so Pogačar retakes the lead. Del Toro on his wheel while Evenepoel still continues to follow.
Pidcock dropped by Seixas and Lipowitz as Voisard passes him and the also dropped Ayuso who now has Simmons there to support him.
Evenepoel muscles into second wheel to follow Pogačar as Del Toro looks to be suffering after his crash.
Voisard now dropped by Simmons and Ayuso who are 46" down on the leaders.
3km to go and Pogačar continues to lead with Evenepoel and Del Toro following. 30" back to Seixas and Lipowitz. Ayuso with his Simmons support at 57" then Pidcock at 1'12".
Pogačar constantly on the radio and he sits up forcing Evenepoel through. The yellow jersey is very keen to get Del Toro onto the podium and into the white jersey but he has the Olympic champion as a problem.
Pogačar back to the front but not his usual flat out superhuman effort as he works for Del Toro. The gap has grown to Seixas and Lipowitz at 43" with 1'11" to Ayuso and 1'36" to Pidcock.
Inside 2km to go now and Pogačar is winding up the pace.
Pidcock, meanwhile, has been caught and dropped by Martinez and Skjelmose.
Flamme Rouge
Pogačar leads the way with Evenepoel in 2nd wheel and Del Toro swinging in his usual style at the back in 3rd wheel. 41" to Seixas and Lipowitz with 1'19" to Ayuso and 1'38" to Martinez and Skjelmose.
Attack
Isaac Del Toro (UAX)
Evenepoel can follow with, of course, Pogačar sat waiting and watching. Nothing comes of it and Evenepoel may start to worry UAE. I imagine Pogačar will go clear soon.
500 metres to go on stage 15.
Del Toro tries again but Evenepoel is right with him. Pogačar coming through as well with 250 metres to go. It will be a sprint!
Remco Evenepoel WINS stage 15 of the Tour de France 2026!!
Seixas and Lipowitz cross the line at 58" and the 19-year-old Frenchman loses white to Del Toro.
Skjelmose comes back to Ayuso and works with him but the Dane has to follow Martinez with Ayuso left to limp across the line. over 2 mins down.
Stage 15 top 10
1. Evenepoel (RBH) 4:23'09"
2. Pogačar (UAX) S.T.
3. Del Toro (UAX) +6"
4. Seixas (DCT) +58"
5. Lipowitz (RBH) S.T.
6. Martinez (TBV) +1'57"
7. Skjelmose (LTK) S.T.
8. Ayuso (LTK) +2'00"
9. Yates (UAX) S.T.
10. Simmons (LTK) +2'16"
GC
1. Pogačar (UAX) 55:41'31"
2. Evenepoel (RBH) +5'00"
3. Del Toro (UAX) +5'58"
Make sure to red our post race report from what was a crazy day in the saddle for the riders. Vingegaard crashing out, Pogačar riding for Del Toro and seemingly refusing to win after his old rival left the race, and Evenepoel seizing the perfect opportunity to win his first road stage at the Tour. Not to mention yet more breakaway heroics from Pidcock and Simmons...
A very special, emotional and long-awaited road race win at the Tour doe Evenepoel who is, understandably, over the moon with the result today...
Tadej Pogačar was in control of the day from the off but didn't take the win despite looking like he could've done so with ease. He just followed Evenepoel's wheel to the line, losing just the 4" in bonuses.
Pogačar also extends his KOM lead to 22 points over Valentin Paret-Peintre.
Isaac Del Toro takes white from Paul Seixas by just 25" with Juan Ayuso slipping to 1'30" and Lenny Martinez at 4'30".
As we wait for the green jersey presentation with Mads Pedersen, here is is Lidl-Trek teammate Quinn Simmons taking the most combative rider prize from the day, as voted for by the public online.
And here is Mads Pedersen after the green jersey crossed the line in 141st at 35'50" down on Evenepoel with his teammates Mathias Vacek and Toms Skujiņš alongside him.
That brings out live updates of stage 15 at the Tour de France, as well as the second week, to a close. Thank for following along. Make sure to keep Cyclingnews open for all the latest news, analysis, interviews and more across this evening and for the rest of the season and beyond. But for now, au revoir!
