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Tour de France 2016: Stage 15

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Today's 160km stage heads into the Jura mountains with six nasty categorised climbs before the finish in Culoz.  

The riders are currently preparing for the start in Bourg-en-Bresse and signing on before the start. 

It is a hot summer day in France with temperatures of between 26-29C. Fortunately the wind has dropped and should not be a factor today. 

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) gets a huge cheer as he signs on. He wears the green points jersey but will have to fight for survival on the climbs and twisting roads. 

The riders have lined up at the start, with the four jersey wearers on the front as per tradition. 

The riders get a huge cheer as they roll out of Bourg-en-Bresse and head to the official start point of the stage.

Chris Froome (Team Sky) is at the front of the peloton. he seems to be setting his computer device. He is close to rival Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and yesterday's winner Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data).  

184 riders have started the stage. Jens Debusschere (Lotto-Soudal) is the non-starter today. He was injured in a crash and suffered  a fissure in his scapula, a disrupted collar bone, a knee incision and a bruised hand.

Today's mountain stage is expected to see a fight for the GC. 

The riders are tucked behind the red race director's car but Christian Prudhomme is about to drop the flag and wave the riders away.

And they're off!! 

And we have a first acceleration as riders try to get into the break of the day. 

Tsgabu Grmay (Lampre-Merida) is the first to attack but he is caught and Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) makes a move. He is chasing points to defend his climber's polka-dot jersey today. 

De Gendt knows that there are 54 points up for grabs today on the six categorised climbs.  The first climb starts after just 17km but the road is already rolling. 

The chasers have dragged the peloton up to De Gendt but he is still looking to go away and sparks another move. 

Chris Froome is near the front as Team Sky control the breakaway riders. 

After a gradual climb  the riders enjoy a descent and are all back together.

Everyone is expected a quality breakaway to form today on the first climb. 

Thomas De Gendt has been in the polka dot jersey since he won stage 12 at Mont Ventoux.

148km remaining from 160km

The peloton can see the climb on the horizon now. But the riders are all together. 

Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) has a 50m gap but he is bring chased down as the climb begins to bite hard.

Surprisingly De Gendt is now at the back of the peloton. 

The climb snakes up a headland overlooking the river. It is a spectacular start to the stage. 

Nibali, Pauwels, Vuillermoz and Zakarin are trying to go clear as the climb hurts. They still have 4km to climb. 

Majka is now on the front, putting down lots of power to try to get away. He is going for the KOM points and perhaps the break of the day. 

As the gradient eases, Zakarin has joined Majka up front, with a slight tailwind helping them go clear.

Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL) is off the back. He's suffering after a difficult last few days. 

Team Sky has three riders on the front with Froome. 

Majka is still pushing on up front, taking turns with Zakarin.

Zakarin crashed out of the Giro d'Italia, suffering a fractured collarbone but made a rapid recovery after surgery and fought to have the form for the Tour de France.

Majka and Zakarin lead by 25 seconds but Nibali charges after them. 

Pauwels chases Nibali to take some climber's points but Nibali kicks again to chase the two up front. 

In the distance, if riders have time to look up, is Mont Blanc. The Alps and Mont Blanc will host the final mountain stages of this year's Tour.

The duo have a 40-second lead but several riders are leading the chase as the road flattens again.

A group of 26 riders has formed and caught Majka and Zakarin. Froome and Team Sky seem happy to let them go. 

Nieve has dropped his chain as is teammates block the peloton by spreading across the road. 

Nibali, Pauwels and Vuillermoz are part of the attack. The gap is now up 1:50. 

There's a total of 28 riders in the attack, with several teams having two or three riders present.  

The riders are on a un-classified climb but it is causing the peloton to lose more time on the break.

Froome is at the back of the peloton after taking a natural break. His teammates are riding slowly, with Rowe, Kiryienka and Stannard back up front to do the early work for their teammates.

125km remaining from 160km

The 30 riders in the break are:

Team Sky has six riders ahead of Froome to lead the steady chase. They cannot let the break gain too much time. Reichenback of FDJ is only 11 minute down in the GC.

116km remaining from 160km

There are some interesting names in the break, for both the GC battle and the stage victory.  

Movistar has both Jon Izagirre and Nelson Oliveira in the break. They are not working and will hope to be there if or when Nairo Quintana attacks in the finale of the stage.

Pierre Rolland, Tom-Jelte Slagter and Dylan van Baarle are there for Cannondale-Drapac. Slagter and van Baarle may struggle on the big climbs but will offer excellent support to Rolland. 

Rolland is spinning his way up the climb, saving his strength for later.

IAM Cycling also has three riders in the move and both Pantano and Coppel could fight for victory today.  

Of course Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie) is in the move too. 

Other strong riders include Nibali and Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R). 

The gap is up to 4:50 as the break nears the top of the Col du Sappel.   

Several riders have their jerseys open and unzipped as they ride in the heat. 

At the back of the race Jesus Herrara (Movistar) has climbed off after being distanced. He has been ill in the last few days. That leaves Quintana with one rider less. 

The Col du Sappel climbs up the side of a cliff of rock, rising gradually along the length of the long outcrop.   

The roads are roughly surfaced in this part of France, with a surface of chippings stuck into the asphalt making it difficult for the riders.  

The break is km from the summit of the climb. 

Voeckler reaches the summit first and so takes maximum points in the KOM competition. Majka just behind and so scores more points. He is closing in on leader De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) who failed to get into the break today.

Majka scored 3 points on the climb and so Thomas De Gendt and Majka both have 90 points in the polka-dot KOM competition. Dani Navarro is third with 69.

100km remaining from 160km

We've added the 30-rider break to our situation on the right of our updates. Check out all the names in the break.

The riders have just passed over the short Col de Pisseloup, with Serge Pauwels taking maximum points. He also seems interested in going for the polka-dot jersey today.  

Majka was second and so scored 1 point, to take the lead the polka-dot jersey competition. 

 Team Sky is taking advantage of the descent to push on with the chase of the 30-rider break. 

Former Tour de France winner Stephen Roche has previewed all the stages for our sister title ProCycling. This is his comment on today's stage.

Romain Sicard (Direct Energie) suffers a mechanical problem but is quickly back on his bike. 

The average speed of the race is 37km/h so far, that's fast considering the hilly profile. 

Astana directeur sportif Beppe Martinelli spoke to Italian television about their stage tactics

He added:

83km remaining from 160km

The riders enjoy a descent and small climb before the day's feed zone. Soon after the 12.8km Grand Colombier starts, when we can expect some serious attacks.   

Cyclingnew’s Sadhbh O’Shea was at the start of the stage and spoke to Serge Pauwels (Dimension Data) about the stage.

Fabio Aru (Astana) also spoke briefly before the start of the stage to Italian television. 

 

Richie Porte (BMC) spoke before the start too.

75km remaining from 160km

The break passes through the feed zone, collecting their late lunch in musettes. Van Baarle is slightly off the front. 

70km remaining from 160km

The race within the race is underway. 

Cyclingnews spoke to Sergio Henao of Team Sky before the start. He expected attacks and a hard day in the saddle. 

Dumoulin is still out front alone, with Jarlinson Pantano and Alexis Vuillermoz joining Nibali in the chase. 

The 12.8km Grand Colombier has officially begun, with the trio having pulled Dumoulin back to create a front quartet.  

Vincenzo Nibali also spoke briefly before the start but didn’t reveal his plans for the stage.

The chasing group is on the Colombier, and Voeckler is struggling to maintain contact at the back. If you can't get TV time off the front, that's another way to do it.

In 2012, when the Tour de France tackled the Col du Grand Colombier, Thomas Voeckler went on the attack and won the stage, but he's having no such luck today.

Slagter and Plaza are being spat out of the chasing group as Navarro surges. The acceleration causes Zubeldia to come unglued, too.

56km remaining from 160km

All of those accelerations nailed back the four attackers, and Nibali immediately goes to the back, as does Dumoulin.

55km remaining from 160km

Nibali is gone from the breakaway, as is Izagirre. Up ahead, Rolland, Zubeldia and Bennett are chasing the break.

51km remaining from 160km

Pozzovivo, Vuillermoz, Pantano, Pauwels, Reichenbach, Navarro, Durasek, Alaphilippe are still chasing Zakarin and Majka.

50km remaining from 160km

There's another steep section ahead, but for now there's a bit of a regroup in the chasing bunch. Pauwels hits the front for a bit, then Navarro takes over. They're doing a good job of sharing the work.

Behind the break the peloton has come alive after Diego Rosa and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) upped the pace. 

The crowds are huge on the top of the climb. Fortunately they seem to be controlling themselves with good fans pulling out anyone who tries to run alongside the riders. 

The riders in the break are attacking each other in sight of the summit. 

Majka crosses the summit of the HC Grande Colombier and collects 25 points in the KOM competition. Zakarin is just happy to be with him. Julian Alaphilippe is the best chaser, at 30 seconds.

The Astana pressure behind is shaking out the Froome group. The Briton has three teammates ahead of him but everyone behind seems to be suffering.

Before start Cyclingnews' Sadhbh O'Shea spoke to Adam Yates (Orica) about the stage.

The Astana acceleration has seen Barguill (Giant) go off the back.

41km remaining from 160km

The Froome reaches the summit, some 7:45 after the attackers. Froome still has three teammates with him but Astana is trying to put the yellow jersey and the G riders group under pressure. 

Froome spoke to the media before the start and seemed wary of the stage. 

The Grand Colombier got its first Tour outing in 2012, when the HC-ranked climb was included as a meagre bone in a race aimed foursquare at rouleurs.

Upfront Zakarin has lost contact on the descent. That's normal after his nasty crash in the Giro.   

The descent is over for the break and the riders are trying to catch up and form a front group. However nobody is willing to wait, sparking a pursuit match on the road.

Alaphilippe is chasing in the team cars but is trying to chase alone.

26km remaining from 160km

Astana are still taking it to Froome in the peloton, with Nibali back working with Aru and Rosa. This could be fascinating.

Majka and Pantano lead the four chasers by 50 seconds. Alaphilippe, Rolland and others are further back, at 1:30.  

22km remaining from 160km

21km remaining from 160km

Sky has lost Geraint Thomas, he's well behind the peloton.

19km remaining from 160km

36 seconds for the Zakarin group, 50 seconds to the larger chase group behind.

There are four chasers, Huzarski, Alaphilippe, Rolland and Durasek, but the Lampre rider is going backwards.

18km remaining from 160km

Poels is looking pained as he keeps Valverde and Aru at striking distance.

Zakarin has stopped with a puncture.

Valverde and Aru persist but they are dangling just meters ahead of the Sky train.

17km remaining from 160km

Oh yikes, that's a large image. Sorry about that!

All of the action in the peloton has brought the gap to 5:36. We haven't had a good look at the maillot jaune group but on the lacets it seems to be back together.

The fans are a little less crazy on this climb than the Ventoux, but are still acting a nuisance by setting off smoke flares.

Aru is back in the peloton and a little further back than he was. Up front it's Poels and Neive with Froome, and Porte, Bardet and Quintana tucked in behind.

15km remaining from 160km

The maillot jaune group is getting leaner and leaner. Mollema is right up front.

Bardet attacks the Froome group.

Van Garderen is shot out the back with that acceleration.

14km remaining from 160km

Poels has a coke. That's not a good sign, he's running out of gas.

Bardet got a gap but Team Sky has used its combined strength to pull him back. 

10km remaining from 160km

Majka is tucked low over his bike as he tries to stay away from Pantano. He doesn't seem spooked by his near crash. 

Sky and the leaders are over the top of the climb and are on the descent. The only effect of Bardet's attack was to distance van Garderen and Yates a little.  

The descent is over for Majka but Pantani is on him now after the Pole's near crash. Reichenbach and Vuillermoz are only 25 seconds back. This is a thriller.  

Majka and Pantano know they have to work together to stay away. 

Mikel Nieve (Team Sky) has also put his foot down on the descent. Froome still has Poels leading him.

5km remaining from 160km

The Froome group has made it safely down the descent but Movistar is setting the pace.   

Yates and Mollema are at the group. 

157km remaining from 160km

Froome tells Poels to stop working, forcing the other to do the chase of Riechenbach.  

Porte is in the group but there is no sign of van Garderen.

1km remaining from 160km

Reichenbach and Vuillermoz can see them! 

Majka and Pantano sprint it out!

Majka leads it out strongly but can't hold off Pantano who wins the stage. 

Reichenbach and Vuillermoz finished just six or seven seconds behind Pantano but got little for their efforts. 

Here comes the Froome peloton.

Zubeldia brings them home, working to limit the time gain of Reichenbach. 

With Froome safely in the group, it means he keeps the yellow jersey for another day. 

It's an important win for the Swiss IAM team. Sadly the team will fold at the end of the season despite winning a its first ever stage at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France this year.

This stage through the Jura was a tough test for everyone but Froome can ride to Bern in Switzerland, knowing that none of his biggest rivals have the strength or courage to attack him.  

This is the provisional stage top ten: 

This is the provisional GC after stage 15. 

Pantano takes the flowers and kisses on the podium. You may remember that he finished the stage to Andorra Arcalis with an umbrella to protect him from the rain. 

Pantano spoke emotionally about his stage victory.

Froome is on the podium and pulls on his 38th yellow jersey. 

Kjell Carlstrom (IAM Cycling DS) celebrated the team's biggest ever win.

We have the first images of the stage, showing Pantano as he celebrates beating Majka in the sprint. 

The stage was also a fight survival, with a large gruppetto just finishing the stage. 

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) spoke about his brief move of the front and Movistar's tactics.

Here's Majka on the attack with Zakarin mid-stage as he chased KOM points.

This is the moment Froome and the GC contenders finished the stage to Culoz. 

Tejay van Garderen lost more than a minute to the Froome group and many of his GC rivals. 

This image shows the testing terrain of today's stage. It included lots of climbing and lots of descending.

That's about it for our live coverage from the stage. For a full report and photo gallery, click here.  

 

 

Join us for full live coverage of stage 16 from Moirans-en-Bretagne to Bern in Switzerland on Monday. 

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