Wellens Cruises To Maiden Tour Win On Stage 15

Belgian champion Tim Wellens claimed his first Tour de France shape triumph pinch a breakaway triumph connected shape 15.

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has done a batch of activity for title leader Tadej Pogacar successful nan opening 2 weeks of nan Tour but, freed from his domestique duties for nan day, attacked connected nan last climb of nan hilly 169.3km thrust from Muret to Carcassonne.

The 34-year-old yet won by 1 infinitesimal 28 seconds, pinch chap Belgian Victor Campenaerts finishing 2nd and Julian Alaphilippe third.

Wellens' team-mate Tadej Pogacar crossed six minutes later successful nan peloton to support his lead of 4 minutes 13 seconds complete Jonas Vingegaard successful nan wide classification standings.

"It is simply a very typical victory," said Wellens. "Everybody knows nan Tour de France but not galore group triumph successful nan Tour de France, truthful it was very beautiful.

"I felt ace bully today. On nan past climb of nan time I felt really good. I knew nan others felt really bully but I knew I had to spell solo. At nan apical of nan climb I recovered my infinitesimal and I felt I had nan legs to support it to nan end.

"I knew I had to bask nan infinitesimal and kept riding until nan extremity truthful I had a large spread to bask it and possibly put my motorcycle successful nan aerial aft nan decorativeness - but I was truthful happy I forgot to do it."