2024 Moab Fondo Fest, May 3rd - 5th - Register Now!
United States | Midwest | Ohio >> Pantano takes a hilly stage 15 win for IAM Cycling as Rafal Majka takes the Polka Dot Jersey

Pantano takes a hilly stage 15 win for IAM Cycling as Rafal Majka takes the Polka Dot Jersey

Froome surprised by lack of attack from Tour de France rivals 

The last remnants of a 30-man breakaway, the stage, won by Colombia's Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling), the Colombian bridged across to Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) on the testing descent from the Lacets du Grand Colombier and then out-sprinted the Polish champion to take the win from the day's breakaway.  

Despite widespread expectations Froome's arch-rival Nairo Quintana and his Movistar team-mate Alejandro Valverde would try to make a move, instead Froome had a quiet day behind his Sky team mates. 

On the four-and-a-half hour trek through the Jura mountain ranges, across six major ascents with over 4,000 metres of vertical climbing, there were opportunities aplenty to take on the Sky leader and defending Tour champion. But in fact the most serious mountain attack came from Froome himself - and that was a probe.

On the last eight kilometre climb of the Lacets du Grand Colombier, Froome briefly accelerated out of the main group of 15 riders but quickly eased back again.

"I was just testing to see what my rivals up to were capable of doing and exactly the state of play," Froome said. "It seemed like everybody was on the limit."

Quintana later said: "Sky set such a high pace, there was nothing we could do. We'll have to try again another day."

Fabio Aru, Alejandro Valverde and Romain Bardet all tried to attack but Sky kept everything firmly under control. A very strong Wout Poels brought everyone back and the only major change was the fact that Tejay van Garderen was dropped on the final climb, slipping from 6th to 8th in the standings.

Monday's stage 16 to Berne in Switzerland is largely flat and should favour the sprinters like Mark Cavendish, who took a fourth bunch sprint win on Saturday. Then after Tuesday's rest day, the Tour heads into the Alps for the final showdown.

Adam Yates suffered badly on the steep slopes of the hot, fearsome climb of the Grand Colombier, clinging onto the back of the Yellow Jersey group, he managed to hold onto his 3rd place overall.  "For me personally, it wasn't a super stage but fortunately I came through ok," the 23-year-old, racing for Orica-Bike Exchange team said.

Dutch rider Bauke Mollema ranked second place, 0:01:47 behind the leader. Briton, Adam Yates was in at third, 0:02:45 behind Froome.

Stage 15 Results, Top 30

# Rider Name (Country) Team Result
1 Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling 4:24:49 
2 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff Team   
3 Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:06 
4 Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) FDJ   
5 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:22 
6 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data 0:00:25 
7 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Cannondale-Drapac   
8 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Team Katusha 0:01:30 
9 Daniel Navarro (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits   
10 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac 0:02:08 
11 Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre - Merida   
12 Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Bora-Argon 18 0:02:10 
13 Wouter Poels (Ned) Team Sky 0:03:07 
14 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky   
15 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team   
16 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team   
17 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale   
18 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team   
19 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff Team   
20 Louis Meintjes (RSA) Lampre - Merida   
21 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange   
22 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo   
23 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team   
24 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step   
25 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha   
26 Steve Morabito (Swi) FDJ   
27 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Trek-Segafredo   
28 Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar Team   
29 Stef Clement (Ned) IAM Cycling 0:04:35 
30 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team  

General classification after stage 15

1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 68:14:36 
2 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:01:47 
3 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange 0:02:45 
4 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:02:59 
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:17 
6 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:04:04 
7 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:04:27 
8 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:04:47 
9 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:05:03 
10 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:05:16  

Leaders Jerseys

Leader’s jersey: Chris Froome (Sky)

Points jersey: Peter Sagan (Tinkoff)

KOM jersey: Rafal Majka (Tinkoff)

Best Young Rider: Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange)

Stage 15 Highlights

Pantano takes a hilly stage 15 win for IAM Cycling as Rafal Majka takes the Polka Dot Jersey