Stage 15 of the 2026 Tour de France was another huge day in the mountains, taking the riders 183.9km from Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison with 3,950 metres of climbing. A blockbuster route produced another elite breakaway featuring Ben Healy, Tom Pidcock, Quinn Simmons, Richard Carapaz and, unusually, Adam Yates, who was sent up the road as a satellite rider for Isaac Del Toro.
But none of that would become the biggest story of the day.
Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the Tour de France, bringing an abrupt end to one of cycling's greatest rivalries. His withdrawal transforms the fight for the podium, but it also raises fascinating questions about Tadej Pogačar. With his biggest rival no longer in the race, did Pogačar choonot to launch the kind of devastating attack many were expecting? Is that the greatest mark of respect he can give? And could this have been the final Tour de France of one of the defining riders of his generation?
Despite the strength of the breakaway, UAE once again brought the race back together. With Del Toro and Pogačar driving the chase, the yellow jersey even sacrificed his own chances to try and deliver a stage victory for his teammate. In the end, it wasn't enough. Remco Evenepoel outsprinted Del Toro and Pogačar to take the stage, leaving us asking another question: have we ever seen the rider in yellow work so selflessly to try and win a stage for a teammate?
Elsewhere, Jasper Philipsen reignited the battle for the green jersey by taking maximum points at the intermediate sprint, meaning the battle for green could go all the way.
Ned Boulting and David Millar break down Stage 15 of the Tour de France.
🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music
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