As it happened: Shock winner comes out on top as a pre-race favourite crashes out

2026-07-19T15:44:07.608Z

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.

2026-07-19T15:43:18.101Z

Seixas and Lipowitz cross the line at 58″ and the 19-year-old Frenchman loses white to Del Toro.

2026-07-19T15:42:08.826Z

Remco Evenepoel WINS stage 15 of the Tour de France 2026!!

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-19T15:41:38.827Z

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!

2026-07-19T15:40:58.602Z

500 metres to go on stage 15.

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.

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.

2026-07-19T15:38:34.731Z

Pidcock, meanwhile, has been caught and dropped by Martinez and Skjelmose.

2026-07-19T15:38:04.149Z

Inside 2km to go now and Pogačar is winding up the pace.

2026-07-19T15:37:45.396Z

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.

2026-07-19T15:36:32.091Z

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.

2026-07-19T15:34:13.421Z

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”.

2026-07-19T15:33:17.237Z

Voisard now dropped by Simmons and Ayuso who are 46″ down on the leaders.

2026-07-19T15:31:37.375Z

Evenepoel muscles into second wheel to follow Pogačar as Del Toro looks to be suffering after his crash.

2026-07-19T15:31:02.390Z

Pidcock dropped by Seixas and Lipowitz as Voisard passes him and the also dropped Ayuso who now has Simmons there to support him.

2026-07-19T15:30:21.491Z

Yates goes pop and swings off so Pogačar retakes the lead. Del Toro on his wheel while Evenepoel still continues to follow.

2026-07-19T15:29:33.727Z

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.

2026-07-19T15:28:55.525Z

This really could possibly be a UAE one-two-three on the stage.

2026-07-19T15:28:33.148Z

Pidcock has been caught and dropped by Pogačar and co with him drifting back to Seixas’ group.

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.

Abandon

Tim Merlier has abandoned the race after being certain to miss the time cut.

2026-07-19T15:25:52.657Z

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.

2026-07-19T15:24:52.814Z

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.

2026-07-19T15:22:48.818Z

Ayuso, Seixas and Lipowitz have all be distanced as they catch Schmid and Rubio.

2026-07-19T15:22:25.409Z

Costiou caught by the GC group as Seixas, Lipowitz and Ayuso are all really struggling to follow Pogačar, Del Toro and Evenepoel.

2026-07-19T15:21:01.945Z

Pogačar comes to the front and starts working for Del Toro as Hindley is dropped along with Carapaz, Skjelmose, Riccitello and Martinez.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-19T15:19:27.174Z

Yates comes through to the front of the chase shortly after Pogačar was on the radio.

2026-07-19T15:18:49.224Z

Simmons seems inspired having his family at the race as his father waits for him on the final climb.

2026-07-19T15:17:54.207Z

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.

2026-07-19T15:17:17.490Z

Pidcock, Voisard and Yates catch Schmid. They are at 15″ from Simmons. 1’35” back to the peloton now.

2026-07-19T15:16:16.193Z

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.

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.

2026-07-19T15:13:39.568Z

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.

2026-07-19T15:12:21.117Z

Aurelien Paret-Peintre is back in the peloton and is keen to help his leader, Seixas.

2026-07-19T15:11:54.922Z

Yates looks to be struggling a bit as well in the break.

10km to go

Schmid leads by 29″ over Pidcock, Simmons, Voisard and Yates with Costiou and Rubio losing touch. The peloton at 2’18”.

2026-07-19T15:10:11.542Z

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe takes up the pace setting in the peloton to limit the time to Pidcock and, ideally, even catch him.

2026-07-19T15:09:43.479Z

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.

2026-07-19T15:08:50.896Z

Onto the final climb, the 11.3km Plateau de Solaison with an average of 9%.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-19T15:05:44.905Z

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.

2026-07-19T15:01:02.205Z

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.

2026-07-19T14:59:04.655Z

Pogačar talking to his teammates and Visma riders for information as Piganzoli appeared to be angry with Del Toro.

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.

2026-07-19T14:56:54.499Z

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.

2026-07-19T14:56:16.000Z

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.

2026-07-19T14:53:15.328Z

Schmid is riding full gas here and has dragged his gap to 18″ to the Pidcock group.

2026-07-19T14:52:42.049Z

The peloton are closing this gap with Campenaerts and Armirail doing all the damage on the valley road before the final climb.

30km to go

Schmid continues to lead but has 10″ on the chasers then 2’35” back to the peloton.

2026-07-19T14:44:42.454Z

Merlier, Eenkhoorn and Van Asbroeck may be in trouble today. They are almost 21 minutes down on the leaders.

2026-07-19T14:43:33.789Z

Out front, Schmid has 6″ on the chasers then 2’34” back to the Visma led peloton.

2026-07-19T14:43:03.676Z

Bruno Armirail also caught by the peloton, so Visma now have good numbers.

2026-07-19T14:42:24.424Z

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.

Attack in break

Mauro Schmid (JAY)

He goes clear on the descent as the chase us on behind him.

2026-07-19T14:40:26.108Z

Matt Riccitello (DCT) gets a bike change.

2026-07-19T14:40:11.312Z

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.

KOM (Côte du Mont)

1. Pidcock (PQT) 2pts
2. Simmons (LTK) 1pt

2026-07-19T14:37:55.897Z

Bernal dropped out of the back of the peloton after being in the break.

2026-07-19T14:36:58.920Z

Jorgenson has started working in the peloton. Out front, Schmid and Costiou make it back in again.

2026-07-19T14:35:50.164Z

Pogačar and Vingegaard both had very very early morning doping tests to contend with last night…

2026-07-19T14:32:33.515Z

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%.

2026-07-19T14:30:13.544Z

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.

2026-07-19T14:28:58.927Z

Pidcock is virtually back on the podium again but this will definitely change.

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

2026-07-19T14:26:46.262Z

Pidcock is first to get back onto Simmons’ wheel before Voisard, Yates and Rubio also rejoin the US champion.

2026-07-19T14:23:37.013Z

Simmons goes over the top but he is about to get company as Pidcock and co are about to rejoin him.

2026-07-19T14:22:34.431Z

Costiou is dropped by the Pidcock group as Simmons is close to cresting the climb.

2026-07-19T14:20:01.764Z

Back in the peloton, Davide Piganzoli leads for Vingegaard. The gap remains the same, though. 3’03” gap.

2026-07-19T14:19:15.501Z

Costiou and Rubio have been reeled back in by Pidcock, Voisard and Yates but Simmons still leads and by 14″!

Attack in break

Quinn Simmons (LTK)

Rubio and Costiou set off in chase as Pidcock leads Voisard and Yates.

2026-07-19T14:15:07.524Z

Van Wilder is dropped by the break along with Schmid.

50km to go

Pidcock continues to lead with just 7 riders able to follow from the 23 that were with him at the bottom.

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.

(Image credit: ASO)

2026-07-19T13:57:41.871Z

Edoardo Affini and Per Strand Hagenes are working hard to keep this break close for Jonas Vingegaard.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-19T13:55:17.049Z

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.

2026-07-19T13:53:42.967Z

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.

2026-07-19T13:52:10.252Z

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.

2026-07-19T13:43:50.598Z

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?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-19T13:37:59.660Z

The break of 24 riders have 2’44” on the peloton with just over 70km to go.

2026-07-19T13:35:18.039Z

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2026-07-19T13:32:01.137Z

The riders working on the front of the peloton for UAE and Visma are Tim Wellens and Per Strand Hagenes.

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”.

2026-07-19T13:16:40.806Z

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.

2026-07-19T13:11:59.807Z

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)

100km to go

A new group goes clear including Carapaz and they bridge across to Vinokurov who waits for them to join him.

Attack

Nicolas Vinokurov (XAT)

The Kazakhstani champion goes clear with EF trying to bridge to him.

2026-07-19T12:57:56.646Z

Tim Wellens (UAX) has been dropped by the peloton. He seems to be on a rough day.

2026-07-19T12:57:11.861Z

Carapaz tries to go but Paret-Peintre is glued to his wheel. Jorgenson and Healy also involved in these new moves.

Attack

Schmid goes clear yet again but EF come flying through to chase and try and go across.

2026-07-19T12:55:04.898Z

Breakaway caught by the peloton after a huge amount of work done by EF Educaiton-EasyPost.

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.

2026-07-19T12:41:58.667Z

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”.

2026-07-19T12:37:28.764Z

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.

2026-07-19T12:35:29.320Z

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.

130km to go

Oliveira within 10″ from the leaders with a further 9″ back to the peloton.

2026-07-19T12:29:24.615Z

Movistar’s Nelson Oliveira is off the front of the peloton as he tries to bridge to Arensman and Azparren.

2026-07-19T12:28:17.820Z

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.

2026-07-19T12:25:38.023Z

Just 10″ split these two from the peloton as they begin descending.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-19T12:21:55.785Z

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.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-19T12:19:57.973Z

Magnus Cort trying to drag T. Johannessen away from the peloton.

2026-07-19T12:18:52.611Z

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.

2026-07-19T12:15:23.230Z

Several riders out of the back after that first climb with the majority of the sprinters gone.

Attack

Arensman (NCI)
Azparren (PQT)

KOM (Côte des Rousses)

1. V. Paret-Peintre (SOQ) 2pts
2. Carapaz (EFE) 1pt

2026-07-19T12:12:33.529Z

Valentin Paret-Peintre wins the first KOM of the day on the Côte des Rousses ahead of Carapaz.

2026-07-19T12:11:41.623Z

Carapaz is trying to bridge the gap with the peloton in tow.

2026-07-19T12:11:25.031Z

Castrillo catches Azparren as Paret-Peintre flies out of the peloton and across the gap with 500 metres to the top of the climb.

Attack

Xavier Mikkel Azparren (Pinarello-Q36.5)

He has no-one following for the moment.

2026-07-19T12:08:39.779Z

That break is back together yet again. Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) and Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) the next to try.

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.

2026-07-19T12:06:31.983Z

Biniam Girmay now dropped from the peloton.

Attack

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)

He has Nicolas Vinokurov (XDS-Astana) bridges the gap.

150km to go

Valentin Paret-Peintre making sure he marks Carapaz’s every move.

2026-07-19T12:03:00.809Z

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.

2026-07-19T12:02:13.448Z

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.

2026-07-19T12:01:05.382Z

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.

2026-07-19T11:59:13.787Z

Turgis dropped from the break as they start the Côte des Rousses.

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.

2026-07-19T11:55:27.108Z

That move is brought back. And a new one goes with Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor).

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

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.

2026-07-19T11:49:15.852Z

Mechanical issue for Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and has changed his bike.

Attack

Abel Balderstone (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost)
Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)

Nothing getting away yet.

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.

2026-07-19T11:45:46.164Z

Kanter took third.

2026-07-19T11:45:34.676Z

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.

2026-07-19T11:43:58.384Z

500 metres to go.

2026-07-19T11:43:40.680Z

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.

2026-07-19T11:43:05.369Z

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.

2026-07-19T11:41:24.636Z

2km to the intermediate sprint as multiple riders are now looking very twitchy as they will look to launch immediately after the intermediate sprint.

2026-07-19T11:40:34.751Z

Toms Skujiņš (Lidl-Trek) tried an attack to take as many points away from Philipsen etc as possible but he was quickly dragged back.

2026-07-19T11:39:32.185Z

Alpecin-Premier Tech continue to lead as NSN move Girmay up as well as Lidl-Trek for Pedersen.

2026-07-19T11:31:39.653Z

10km to go to the intermediate sprint.

2026-07-19T11:31:16.403Z

For now, no-one is challenging Alpecin-Premier Tech on the front of the bunch.

2026-07-19T11:28:18.062Z

Silvan Dillier leads the way with Philipsen sits in third wheel.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-19T11:27:12.750Z

The peloton is strung out in one long line as Alpecin-Premier Tech pushes hard.

2026-07-19T11:24:36.976Z

Just 14km to the intermediate sprint. We have some uphill riding to do beforehand, though.

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.

2026-07-19T11:17:52.566Z

Here are the jerseys after stage 14

Neutral start

Just 3.9km of neutral today.

2026-07-19T11:03:44.205Z

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.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-19T11:00:21.086Z

The neutralised start is in around 10 minutes from Champagnole.

2026-07-19T10:56:42.617Z

Dive deeper into the day with our preview…

2026-07-19T10:54:25.245Z

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.

(Image credit: ASO)

Salut and welcome to Cyclingnews‘ live updates of stage 15 at the Tour de France 2026!