Remco Evenepoel won stage 15 of the 2026 Tour de France after outsprinting Tadej Pogacar in the final climb to Plateau de Solaison. The Belgian was the only rider able to withstand the pace set by the leader and Mexican Isaac Del Toro on the grueling final ascent, before sealing the day with a victory that also strengthens his new second position in the general classification. The stage was marked by the withdrawal of Jonas Vingegaard, who crashed at a roundabout with about 18 kilometers to go and had to abandon the race.
The Tour reached its second consecutive day of high mountain stages with a 183.9-kilometer route between Champagnole and Plateau de Solaison. The toughest part was concentrated in the final 50 kilometers, with the Col de la Croisette, the Côte du Mont, and a finish never before seen in the Tour de France: an 11.3-kilometer final climb with an average gradient of 9%.
The race ended with two completely different stories. On one hand, Evenepoel delivered one of his best performances on a major climb, outsprinting Pogacar. On the other, Vingegaard disappeared from the race after a crash that completely changes the battle for the general classification. Evenepoel beats Pogacar on the Plateau de Solaison, and Vingegaard’s withdrawal shakes up the Tour.
Evenepoel resists the UAE Team Emirates’ pace and wins the sprint.
The day’s breakaway included 24 riders, among them Tom Pidcock, Adam Yates, Quinn Simmons, Mauro Schmid, Egan Bernal, Ilan Van Wilder, Einer Rubio, and Ben Healy.
Pidcock again tried to break away after dropping to ninth overall at Le Markstein. His presence helped UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma-Lease a Bike keep the gap under control. The leading group’s advantage barely exceeded three minutes before the decisive climbs.
The Col de la Croisette, with its 4.7 kilometers at 11.2%, drastically reduced the size of the leading group. Simmons, Pidcock, Yannis Voisard, Adam Yates, and Rubio were among the riders who managed to stay at the front, while the peloton dwindled to around 25 cyclists.
Simmons was the most aggressive. The American champion attacked on the Croisette and tried again on the Plateau de Solaison, where he caught and dropped Mauro Schmid. However, his margin was insufficient against the pace set by the favorites.
Pidcock also tried to thin out the chasing group on the final climb, but he couldn’t stay with Simmons and was subsequently caught by the main contenders for the overall classification. When UAE Team Emirates definitively took control, Adam Yates worked for Pogacar and Del Toro. The Briton neutralized Pidcock and Voisard before leaving his two teammates ready to contest the stage.
Pogacar accelerated while seated, with Del Toro on his wheel, and only Evenepoel could respond. Paul Seixas, Florian Lipowitz, and Juan Ayuso lost contact, while the leading trio caught Simmons less than five kilometers from the finish.
The leader worked for much of the climb, focused on keeping Del Toro in the group. Evenepoel not only held on but even took turns at the front in the final kilometers, demonstrating that he still had the strength to contest the victory.
Del Toro attacked within the last kilometer, but Evenepoel immediately closed the move. Pogacar then took the lead to launch his sprint on the final slopes, but the Belgian managed to overtake him and raise his arms in victory at Plateau de Solaison.
Vingegaard abandons the Tour after a crash at a roundabout
The stage changed completely with about 18 kilometers to go. Jonas Vingegaard crashed on a right-hand bend at a roundabout, as Visma-Lease a Bike was working to bring the peloton closer to the breakaway before the Plateau de Solaison.
The Dane lost control on his own and, after hitting a curb, lay on the ground. Isaac Del Toro was also involved in the incident, although the Mexican was able to get back on his feet quickly and continue the stage.
Vingegaard remained on the asphalt in visible pain. Medical personnel placed a sling on his arm, and a few minutes later, his withdrawal was confirmed. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider got into the medical vehicle and ended his participation while in second place overall.
The crash eliminates Pogacar’s main rival and completely alters the battle for the podium before the final week. Evenepoel inherits second place and Del Toro gains ground again
Vingegaard’s withdrawal makes Evenepoel the new second-place finisher in the Tour. The Belgian, who was already in third place before the stage, further strengthened his position by winning on Plateau de Solaison and gaining almost a minute on Seixas and Lipowitz.
Del Toro finished third, six seconds back, after rejoining the peloton following his crash. His result allows him to continue climbing in a classification that had already begun to tighten after the Le Markstein stage.
Seixas and Lipowitz finished together, 58 seconds behind. Both lost ground to Evenepoel and Del Toro, but remain in contention for the top positions.
Top 10 of stage 15 of the Tour de France 2026
1. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) – 4:23:09
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – same time
3. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 6 seconds away
4. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) – 58 seconds away
5. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) – 58 seconds away
6. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) – at 1:57
7. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) – at 1:57
8. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) – at 2:00
9. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – at 2:00
10. Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) – at 2:16
Top 10 of the general classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 55:41:31
2. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) – at 5:00
3. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – at 5:58
4. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) – at 6:23
5. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) – at 6:48
6. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) – at 7:25
7. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) – at 9:38
8. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) – at 10:28
9. Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – at 10:56
10. Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) – at 19:26
SOURCE: www.brujulabike.com