Tour de France – Stage 15

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Win number three in this year’s Tour de France for Andre Greipel – report, results & rider reactions

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Tour de France – Stage 15

ASO Press Release
Germany’s André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) claimed his third stage victory of the 2015 Tour de France as he outsprinted his compatriot John Degenkolb in a bunch gallop in Valence.

André Greipel: “Hats off to Kathusha who worked all day. We did some work also at the end but I didn’t know what to expect with the head wind. In the first 18km today, everything went through my mind, like making the time cut. There were 24 guys up the road and it was so hard”.

“I’ve had to deal with a different set up today as my lead out men weren’t with me [Greg Henderson pulled out and Marcel Sieberg was in the laughing group]. Jens Debusschere was my last man. We talked about the key point and he listened very well. Tim Wellens protected me from the wind all day.”

“Lars Bak was in the breakaway. Adam Hansen was a great help, also Tony Gallopin even though he’s high placed on GC. It was all about taking the right decisions at the end and having the power in the legs at the end. Alexander Kristoff’s wheel was the right one to follow”.

“I accelerated when I saw the 250 metres mark. At 100 metres, I put my 11 cog on and I was pleased that my chain stayed there. Compared to previous years, all I get is more experience. I’ve worked for being more explosive but I don’t know if I’m the fastest in this Tour. I’m one of the fastest but other sprinters are also in good condition.”

“It helps to win at the beginning of the Tour. It has helped me this year for my confidence. But all of my career, I’ve been fast and I’ve won races, even at the Tour de France. I don’t become slower even when Marcel Kittel is not here. The next sprint will be on the Champs-Elysées but next Sunday seems pretty far away when I see the amount of climbing that we’ll have to do before getting there. So my next goal is the rest day.”

Stage 15 was again animated by Peter Sagan who increased his lead in the points classification and Thibaut Pinot who confirmed his return to form the day after finishing second in Mende. Chris Froome retained the yellow jersey for the tenth time this year.

A peloton of 172 riders started stage 15 in Mende. Inspired by the historical victory of his team-mate Stephen Cummings on Mandela Day, Daniel Teklehaimanot (MTN-Qhubeka) was the first attacker after flag off. Lieuwe Westra (Astana) and Dylan van Baarle (Cannondale-Garmin) inspired a move of 16 riders who rode away in the côte de Badaroux where Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step) lost contact with the peloton.

As it would be a long day of suffering at the back for the winner of stage 7 in Fougères, 27 riders gathered in the lead due to the regrouping of several counter-attackers: Lieuwe Westra (Astana), Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R-La Mondiale), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Michael Rogers and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo), Winner Anacona and José Herrada (Movistar), Lars Bak and Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Simon Geschke (Giant-Alpecin), Purito Rodriguez (Katusha), Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge), Michal Kwiatkowski, Matteo Trentin and Rigo Uran (Etixx-Quick Step), Cyril Gautier and Perrig Quémeneur (Europcar), Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo), Bob Jungels (Trek), Kristjian Durasek and Ruben Plaza (Lampre-Merida), Andrew Talansky, Ryder Hesjedal and Dylan van Baarle (Cannondale-Garmin), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Paul Voss (Bora-Argon 18) and Serge Pauwels (MTN-Qhubeka).

Katusha in the chase
Katusha took charge of the chase straight away and continued to pull even when the breakaway group split. At km 35, 9 of 27 leading riders formed a new front group at the initiative of Peter Sagan who rode very aggressively again, the day after his exploit in Mende (5th).

The nine escapees were: Pinot, Rogers, Sagan, Bak, Geschke, A. Yates, Hesjedal, Kwiatkowski and Trentin. Katusha gave up with 108km to go while the time difference was 2.20. Team Sky took over but the maximum time gap was 3 minutes with 80km to go, just before Michael Rogers had a flat tyre, which slowed the front group as his companions waited for him. Rogers led Sagan out for another intermediate sprint victory in Aubenas.

Katusha returned at the command of the bunch to bring the deficit down while the group of stragglers including Cavendish and Jean-Christophe Péraud (AG2R-La Mondiale) was timed more than eight minutes behind the escapees.

Victory number 9 at the Tour de France
50km before the finish, Matteo Trentin rode away solo. Ryder Hesjedal joined him 13 kilometers further. Their former breakaway companions were reeled in with 40km to go by the peloton led by Europcar. The peloton was together again with 29km remaining. Three teams paced for their sprinters: Lotto-Soudal for André Greipel, Katusha for Alexander Kristoff and Europcar for Bryan Coquard.

Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quick Step) tried to repeat his audacious finale of stage 6 in Le Havre. He attacked with 3.5km to go but was reeled in under the flamme rouge. Rushing to the line with full confidence after winning stage 2 and stage 5, Greipel proved once again to be the strongest this year while Cavendish was absent. The German “gorilla” from Rostock claimed his ninth stage win at the Tour de France.

Rider Reactions

Mark Cavendish was guided by Mark Renshaw and Michal Golas in a group of more than 20 riders. That group made the time cut despite the peloton riding so quickly during the stage.  Cavendish: “I was up last night with stomach problems. In terms of the team’s tactics we prayed it would be an easy start. But we had the plan to get guys in the breakaway anyway. I felt empty at the start”.

“It’s a shame because I was going good in the last couple of days. I had Mark Renshaw and Michal Golas with me, and we thought there was a chance we could come back. But once Katusha got on the front, and the TV cameras realize there’s a chase happening and so go to the front of the peloton, you know it’s going to be a long day for us guys behind. After about 30 kilometers we knew it was about surviving the day. We knew there wasn’t a chance to win with me. But we knew there were guys that were in the break, which is really good. It was a hard day for us, but I’m still in Le Tour de France. I’m looking forward to just trying to get to Paris and I hope I am not ill in the next days.”

Alexander Kristoff: “It was a bit of a headwind at the end. Greipel had a really good jump and I always struggle a bit when it’s like that so at the end I had good top speed but I just wasn’t fast enough. Today Greipel and Degenkolb were just stronger. I was planning to go at the same time at 250 m but Greipel was just stronger and when he started his sprint I could not answer.”

Kristoff

Photo: © Tim De Waele / Team Katusha

“Really there is only one chance left for the sprinters on the Champs Élysées but if Greipel continues to sprint like this, it will be difficult to beat him. We were at the front a little early and the speed dropped just a bit and I came into the last corner in second position. I wanted to win the sprint and the team did a great job for me. It’s a pity I could not deliver. When the speeds drop off at the end and then I have to pick back up, I always have trouble with that kind of acceleration”

Chris Froome: “It looked like a straight forward stage on paper, an easy day for us and a good day for the sprinters but it wasn’t! It was full gas all day. It didn’t stop. It ended up being a very tough stage. My team-mates Peter Kennaugh and Richie Porte have had a bit of a cold. It’s not up to me to comment on their medical condition but they seem fine.”

“We’re still nine riders in the race, that’s a big credit to us. With over three minutes lead on GC I’m in a very privileged position. I’m looking forward to the rest day. There are five real stages left before the Champs-Elysées. I’m very happy with the fantastic support I got from the crowd today.

Peter Sagan: “I went into the breakaway because I wanted to win the stage. But that’s never an easy task. I felt good all day. I took a maximum of points in the intermediate sprint. After that, I wanted to insist. When we got caught by the bunch, I focused on the final sprint. I changed bike to use my favorite one for the flat. But sprinting is a bit of a lottery. There was a head wind in the last three kilometers. I tried to get the best position but Greipel was again stronger than me today”.

Nairo Quintana: “It was a normal day but not a quiet one. The start has been very demanding. It hurt everyone. It would be fabulous to have a quiet day tomorrow. I know the finale. We’ll have to pay attention to Froome and to all the other rivals who could attack me. I feel very well, much better than at the Giro I won last year, being sick.”

Jerseys
YELLOW JERSEY: Chris Froome
GREEN JERSEY: Peter Sagan
POLKA-DOT JERSEY: Chris Froome
WHITE JERSEY: Nairo Quintana

2015_July_Vision_tdf_SM
Stage Result
1. GREIPEL André LOTTO-SOUDAL 03h 56′ 35”
2 DEGENKOLB John TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 00′ 00”
3 KRISTOFF Alexander TEAM KATUSHA @ 00′ 00”
4 SAGAN Peter TINKOFF-SAXO @ 00′ 00”
5 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald MTN-QHUBEKA @ 00′ 00”
6 NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 00′ 00”
7 LAPORTE Christophe COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 00′ 00”
8 MATTHEWS Michael ORICA GREENEDGE @ 00′ 00”
9 CIMOLAI Davide LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 00′ 00”
10 VACHON Florian BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 00′ 00”
11 PANTANO GOMEZ Jarlinson IAM CYCLING @ 00′ 00”
12 BAKELANTS Jan AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 00′ 00”
13 VOSS Paul BORA-ARGON 18 @ 00′ 00”
14 MARTENS Paul TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 00′ 00”
15 COQUARD Bryan TEAM EUROPCAR @ 00′ 00”
16 VERMOTE Julien ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 00′ 00”
17 FEILLU Brice BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 00′ 00”
18 RAST Gregory TREK FACTORY RACING @ 00′ 00”
19 KOREN Kristijan TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 00′ 00”
20 PAUWELS Serge MTN-QHUBEKA @ 00′ 00”
21 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC RACING TEAM @ 00′ 00”
22 BARTA Jan BORA-ARGON 18 @ 00′ 00”
23 FROOME Christopher TEAM SKY @ 00′ 00”
24 KANGERT Tanel ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 00′ 00”
25 VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC RACING TEAM @ 00′ 00”
26 OLIVEIRA Nelson LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 00′ 00”
27 HOLLENSTEIN Reto IAM CYCLING @ 00′ 00”
28 SANCHEZ Samuel BMC RACING TEAM @ 00′ 00”
29 KREUZIGER Roman TINKOFF-SAXO @ 00′ 00”
30 NIBALI Vincenzo ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 00′ 00”
31 GESINK Robert TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 00′ 00”
32 CHEREL Mikael AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 00′ 00”
33 THOMAS Geraint TEAM SKY @ 00′ 00”
34 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt MTN-QHUBEKA @ 00′ 00”
35 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro MOVISTAR TEAM @ 00′ 00”
36 LADAGNOUS Matthieu FDJ @ 00′ 00”
37 MOLLEMA Bauke TREK FACTORY RACING @ 00′ 00”
38 BARGUIL WARREN TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 00′ 00”
39 BARDET Romain AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 00′ 00”
40 CASTROVIEJO NICOLAS Jonathan MOVISTAR TEAM @ 00′ 00”
41 PLAZA MOLINA Ruben LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 00′ 00”
42 FRANK Mathias IAM CYCLING @ 00′ 00”
43 ROLLAND Pierre TEAM EUROPCAR @ 00′ 00”
44 ELMIGER Martin IAM CYCLING @ 00′ 00”
45 SERPA SANTANDER José LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 00′ 00”
46 POZZATO Filippo LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 00′ 00”
47 CURVERS Roy TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 00′ 00”
48 VAUGRENARD Benoît FDJ @ 00′ 00”
49 CONTADOR Alberto TINKOFF-SAXO @ 00′ 00”
50 GALLOPIN Tony LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 00′ 00”
51 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar TREK FACTORY RACING @ 00′ 00”
52 QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOVISTAR TEAM @ 00′ 00”
53 MATE MARDONES Luis Angel COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 00′ 00”
54 PINOT Thibaut FDJ @ 00′ 00”
55 HUZARSKI Bartosz BORA-ARGON 18 @ 00′ 00”
56 BAK Lars LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 00′ 00”
57 IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI Gorka MOVISTAR TEAM @ 00′ 00”
58 KRUIJSWIJK Steven TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 00′ 00”
59 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Jacques MTN-QHUBEKA @ 00′ 00”
60 SCARPONI Michele ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 00′ 00”
61 MALORI Adriano MOVISTAR TEAM @ 00′ 00”
62 TALANSKY Andrew TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 00′ 00”
63 TANKINK Bram TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 00′ 00”
64 GUARNIERI Jacopo TEAM KATUSHA @ 00′ 00”
65 PIMANTA COSTA MENDES José Joao BORA-ARGON 18 @ 00′ 20”
66 VANBILSEN KENNETH COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 00′ 22”
67 TULIK ANGÉLO TEAM EUROPCAR @ 00′ 24”
68 DE KORT Koen TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 00′ 37”
69 WEENING Pieter ORICA GREENEDGE @ 00′ 46”
70 WESTRA Lieuwe ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 00′ 48”
71 DEBUSSCHERE Jens LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 00′ 49”
72 BONO Matteo LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 01′ 01”
73 VAN EMDEN Jos TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 01′ 01”
74 ANDERSEN Michael Valgren TINKOFF-SAXO @ 01′ 01”
75 NAULLEAU BRYAN TEAM EUROPCAR @ 01′ 04”
76 HANSEN Adam LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 01′ 06”
77 HALLER Marco TEAM KATUSHA @ 01′ 14”
78 STYBAR Zdenek ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 01′ 18”
79 PREIDLER Georg TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 01′ 21”
80 MACHADO Tiago TEAM KATUSHA @ 01′ 45”
81 CARUSO Damiano BMC RACING TEAM @ 01′ 45”
82 WYSS Danilo BMC RACING TEAM @ 01′ 45”
83 KELDERMAN Wilco TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 01′ 45”
84 JUNGELS Bob TREK FACTORY RACING @ 01′ 45”
85 SCHÄR Michael BMC RACING TEAM @ 01′ 45”
86 GERARD Arnaud BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 01′ 45”
87 ROWE Luke TEAM SKY @ 01′ 45”
88 ROCHE Nicolas TEAM SKY @ 01′ 45”
89 TOSATTO Matteo TINKOFF-SAXO @ 01′ 45”
90 SIMON Julien COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 01′ 45”
91 STANNARD Ian TEAM SKY @ 01′ 45”
92 GENE Yohann TEAM EUROPCAR @ 01′ 45”
93 OSS Daniel BMC RACING TEAM @ 01′ 45”
94 CLEMENT Stef IAM CYCLING @ 02′ 14”
95 VUILLERMOZ Alexis AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 02′ 14”
96 FEDRIGO Pierrick BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 02′ 14”
97 WYSS Marcel IAM CYCLING @ 02′ 14”
98 CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM CYCLING @ 02′ 14”
99 KUDUS GHEBREMEDHIN Merhawi MTN-QHUBEKA @ 02′ 14”
100 PERICHON Pierre-Luc BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 02′ 56”
101 DURBRIDGE Luke ORICA GREENEDGE @ 02′ 59”
102 GESCHKE Simon TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 03′ 18”
103 GAUTIER Cyril TEAM EUROPCAR @ 03′ 18”
104 DURASEK Kristijan LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 03′ 18”
105 GRIVKO Andriy ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 03′ 41”
106 GRUZDEV Dmitriy ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 03′ 41”
107 TUFT Svein ORICA GREENEDGE @ 03′ 47”
108 DENNIS Rohan BMC RACING TEAM @ 04′ 21”
109 QUINZIATO Manuel BMC RACING TEAM @ 04′ 21”
110 CARUSO Gianpaolo TEAM KATUSHA @ 04′ 21”
111 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joachim TEAM KATUSHA @ 04′ 21”
112 GAUDIN Damien AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 04′ 21”
113 RIBLON Christophe AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 04′ 21”
114 FUGLSANG Jakob ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 04′ 21”
115 PORTE Richie TEAM SKY @ 04′ 21”
116 EDET Nicolas COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 04′ 21”
117 NAVARRO GARCIA Daniel COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 04′ 21”
118 TIMMER Albert TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 04′ 21”
119 VOECKLER Thomas TEAM EUROPCAR @ 04′ 21”
120 BUCHMANN Emanuel BORA-ARGON 18 @ 04′ 21”
121 QUEMENEUR Perrig TEAM EUROPCAR @ 04′ 21”
122 ANACONA GOMEZ Winner Andrew MOVISTAR TEAM @ 04′ 21”
123 DE GENDT Thomas LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 04′ 21”
124 TEN DAM Laurens TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 04′ 21”
125 KWIATKOWSKI Michal ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 04′ 21”
126 DIDIER Laurent TREK FACTORY RACING @ 04′ 21”
127 ARREDONDO MORENO Julian TREK FACTORY RACING @ 04′ 21”
128 URAN URAN Rigoberto ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 04′ 21”
129 ROGERS Michael TINKOFF-SAXO @ 04′ 21”
130 VALLS FERRI Rafael LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 04′ 21”
131 HERRADA LOPEZ José MOVISTAR TEAM @ 04′ 21”
132 KONIG Leopold TEAM SKY @ 04′ 21”
133 WELLENS Tim LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 04′ 21”
134 MARTIN Daniel TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 05′ 26”
135 YATES Adam ORICA GREENEDGE @ 05′ 26”
136 TRENTIN Matteo ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 05′ 26”
137 MAJKA Rafal TINKOFF-SAXO @ 05′ 26”
138 LOSADA ALGUACIL Alberto TEAM KATUSHA @ 05′ 26”
139 GENIEZ Alexandre FDJ @ 05′ 26”
140 POELS Wouter TEAM SKY @ 05′ 26”
141 VAN BAARLE Dylan TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 05′ 26”
142 SICARD Romain TEAM EUROPCAR @ 05′ 26”
143 CUMMINGS Stephen MTN-QHUBEKA @ 05′ 26”
144 HESJEDAL Ryder TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 05′ 26”
145 MEINTJES Louis MTN-QHUBEKA @ 05′ 26”
146 HAAS Nathan TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 15′ 41”
147 BENNETT Sam BORA-ARGON 18 @ 15′ 41”
148 TEKLEHAIMANOT Daniel MTN-QHUBEKA @ 15′ 41”
149 SIEBERG Marcel LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 15′ 41”
150 GOLAS Michal ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 15′ 41”
151 CAVENDISH Mark ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 15′ 41”
152 RENSHAW Mark ETIXX-QUICK STEP @ 15′ 41”
153 IRIZAR ARRANBURU Markel TREK FACTORY RACING @ 15′ 41”
154 FARRAR Tyler MTN-QHUBEKA @ 15′ 41”
155 BRUN Fréderic BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 15′ 41”
156 DEVOLDER Stijn TREK FACTORY RACING @ 15′ 41”
157 DELAPLACE Anthony BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 15′ 41”
158 SENECHAL Florian COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 15′ 41”
159 SOUPE GEOFFREY COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS @ 15′ 41”
160 DEMARE Arnaud FDJ @ 15′ 41”
161 FONSECA Armindo BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 15′ 41”
162 ROY Jérémy FDJ @ 15′ 41”
163 ERVITI OLLO Imanol MOVISTAR TEAM @ 15′ 41”
164 CHAVANEL Sébastien FDJ @ 15′ 41”
165 BRÄNDLE Matthias IAM CYCLING @ 15′ 41”
166 PÉRAUD Jean-Christophe AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 15′ 41”
167 KENNAUGH Peter TEAM SKY @ 15′ 41”
168 YATES Simon ORICA GREENEDGE @ 15′ 41”
169 COPPEL Jérôme IAM CYCLING @ 15′ 41”
170 VANMARCKE Sep TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 15′ 41”
171 LEEZER Thomas TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 15′ 41

Overall
1 FROOME Christopher TEAM SKY 59h 58′ 54”
2 QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOVISTAR TEAM @ 03′ 10”
3 VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC RACING TEAM @ 03′ 32”
4 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro MOVISTAR TEAM @ 04′ 02”
5 CONTADOR Alberto TINKOFF-SAXO @ 04′ 23”
6 THOMAS Geraint TEAM SKY @ 04′ 54”
7 GESINK Robert TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO @ 06′ 23”
8 NIBALI Vincenzo ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 08′ 17”
9 GALLOPIN Tony LOTTO-SOUDAL @ 08′ 23”
10 MOLLEMA Bauke TREK FACTORY RACING @ 08′ 53”
11 BARGUIL WARREN TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN @ 11′ 03”
12 BARDET Romain AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 13′ 10”
13 FRANK Mathias IAM CYCLING @ 13′ 26”
14 SANCHEZ Samuel BMC RACING TEAM @ 14′ 21”
15 ROLLAND Pierre TEAM EUROPCAR @ 14′ 58”
16 TALANSKY Andrew TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN @ 22′ 18”
17 PINOT Thibaut FDJ @ 30′ 57”
18 PANTANO GOMEZ Jarlinson IAM CYCLING @ 34′ 44”
19 FUGLSANG Jakob ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 35′ 26”
20 VUILLERMOZ Alexis AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 35′ 32”

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