André Greipel Wins his Third Tour Stage Victory in a Close Sprint
André Greipel, Lotto-Soudal, won Stage 15 in a bunch sprint of most of the top sprinters in downtown Valence. This was Greipel's third stage victory of the tour. Greipel has shown the best form and speed among the sprinters in a bunch sprint finish so far in the tour. The GC top contenders crossed the line together as they stayed within eyesight of each other during the stage today. The nine riders in the breakaway group took the King of the Mountain points; there was little change in that competition.
Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo, was in the breakaway group of 9 riders today. Sagan set himself up to do well in the intermediate sprint in Aubenas. Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo, won the intermediate sprint with support from Michael Rogers. The group included Andrew Talansky, Cannondale-Garmin, Thibaut Pinot, FDJ, Michal Kwiatkowski, Etixx-Quick Step, Joaquim Rodriguez, Team Katusha, and Rigoberto Uran, Etixx-Quick Step. The peloton was three minutes behind at the 80 km mark. There was a detached group of 23 riders, including Mark Cavendish, Etixx-Quick Step, that was 5 minutes behind the peloton at that point. At the end of the stage that group fell over 10 minutes behind Greipel.
The peloton was led by Team Sky, helping keep GC leader Chris Froome out of trouble at the 80 km (50 miles) mark. At 64 km (40 miles), Team Katusha moved to the front of the peloton to go over the last climb of the stage, the Category 2 Col de competition.On the descent, the top GC contenders went to the front of the peloton and began to decrease the time gap between the peloton and the breakaway group. The peloton, led by Movistar Team, caught the breakaway group at 38 km 24 miles). Heading into the last 23 km (14 miles) of the stage, the sprinter teams moved to the front of the peloton. With Mark Cavendish, Etixx-Quick Step, in the trailing group of 23 riders well behind the peloton, teams felt that this would be an opportunity to get a stage victory.
Tour News Update:
A spectator threw a cup of urine in the face of Chris Froome, Team Sky while accusing him of doping in yesterday's Stage 14. This was four days after a spectator punched Richie Porte, also of Team Sky, in the stomach during Stage 10. The Tour Director, Christian Prudhomme, blamed the media on setting a negative tone to Team Sky and Chris Froome.
Stage 15 Results
1.
|
André Greipel
|
Lotto-Soudal
|
03h 56' 35''
| |
2.
|
John Degenkolb
|
Team Giant-Alpecin
|
03h 56' 35''
|
+ 00' 00''
|
3.
|
Alexander Kristoff
|
Team Katusha
|
03h 56' 35''
|
+ 00' 00''
|
4.
|
Peter Sagan
|
Tinkoff-Saxo
|
03h 56' 35''
|
+ 00' 00''
|
5.
|
Edvald Boasson Hagen
|
MTN-Qhubeka
|
03h 56' 35''
|
+ 00' 00''
|
Points Competition Standings
1.
|
Peter Sagan
|
Tinkoff-Saxo
|
360 pts
|
2.
|
André Greipel
|
Lotto-Soudal
|
316 pts
|
3.
|
John Degenkolb
|
Team Giant-Alpecin
|
264 pts
|
4.
|
Mark Cavendish
|
Etixx-Quick Step
|
192 pts
|
GC Competition Standings
1.
|
Chris Froome
|
Team Sky
|
59h 58' 54''
| |
2.
|
Nairo Quintana
|
Movistar Team
|
60h 02' 04''
|
+ 03' 10''
|
3.
|
Tejay Van Garderen
|
BMC Racing Team
|
60h 02' 26''
|
+ 03' 32''
|
4.
|
Alejandro Valverde
|
Movistar Team
|
60h 02' 56''
|
+ 04' 02''
|
5.
|
Alberto Contador
|
Tinkoff-Saxo
|
60h 03' 17''
|
+ 04' 23''
|
6.
|
Geraint Thomas
|
Team Sky
|
60h 03' 48''
|
+ 04' 54''
|
7.
|
Robert Gesink
|
Team Lotto NL - Jumbo
|
60h 05' 17''
|
+ 06' 23''
|
8.
|
Vincenzo Nibali
|
Astana Pro Team
|
60h 07' 11''
|
+ 08' 17''
|
9.
|
Tony Gallopin
|
Lotto-Soudal
|
60h 07' 17''
|
+ 08' 23''
|
10.
|
Bauke Mollema
|
Trek Factory Racing
|
60h 07' 47''
|
+ 08' 53
|
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