Stage 15 of the 2026 Tour de France dramatically reshuffled the cards in the race. Over the 183,9 kilometers between Champagnole and the Plateau de Solaison, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) secured a stunning victory atop one of the most demanding climbs of this year's edition. But the day's most significant event came just over 20 kilometers from the finish with the withdrawal of Jonas Vingegaard, who suffered a heavy crash.
The Dane, second in the general classification at the start of the stage, crashed at the exit of a roundabout in an accident involving several riders. Injured in his right arm, he was unable to continue and ultimately left the race in an ambulance, abruptly ending his ambitions in this Tour.
Evenepoel secures a prestigious victory
On the final climb to the Plateau de Solaison, Remco Evenepoel put on a show of strength to secure a prestigious victory in the high mountains. The Belgian adds another significant win to his palmarès on a stage that was among the most anticipated of this second week.
This performance also allows him to make an excellent move in the general classification, where he takes advantage of Vingegaard's withdrawal to climb to second place provisionally behind the untouchable Tadej Pogacar.
Pogacar calmly retains the Yellow Jersey
Despite the chaos caused by his main rival's crash, Tadej Pogacar handled the situation perfectly. The Slovenian remained with the group of favorites and easily retained his Yellow Jersey before the rest day. Having led for several stages, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG champion now enters the final week in an even stronger position, with his main rival having abandoned the race.
The podium was completely redistributed.
Jonas Vingegaard's withdrawal completely changes the battle for the top spots. Remco Evenepoel becomes Tadej Pogacar's new runner-up, while the fight for the podium promises to be particularly intense among several contenders. The gaps remain tight between the main outsiders, notably Thomas Pidcock, Juan Ayuso, Paul Seixas, Florian Lipowitz, and Isaac Del Toro, who can still harbor high hopes as the decisive Alpine stages approach.
A day that could change the fate of the Tour
This 15th stage will remain one of the major turning points of the 2026 edition. Remco Evenepoel's victory secured him a prestigious win and another second-place finish, while Jonas Vingegaard's crash and subsequent withdrawal definitively reshuffled the general classification hierarchy. On the eve of the second rest day, Tadej Pogacar appears more than ever in a strong position to win another Tour de France, while his pursuers will now have to fight primarily for podium places.
