Stage 15 – TDF 2018 – Millau to Carcassone – Sunday July 22, 2018
Astana rider Magnus Cort Nielsen outsprinted his rivals to his first Tour de France stage win.
It was a difficult day in the mountains, with several breaks, and a long run by Polish rider Rafal Majka.
But in the end it came down to three riders in the sprint into Carcassone, and the 25-year-old Dane bested Jon Izaguirre (Bahrain Merida) and Bauke Mollema (Trek – Segafredo) to the line.
Michael Valgren also of Team Astana came in fourth and listening to his radio as he passed the line learned that his teammate had won the stage.
Rafal Majka of Bora – Hansgrohe won most combative rider of the day. Previously, the Polish rider has three mountain stages under his belt: at Risoul and St-Lary in 2014, at Cauterets in 2015. The Pole also won the KOM competition in 2014 and 2016.
Though Dan Martin managed to get ahead of the field, cresting the Pic de Nore ahead of the peloton, and 12 minutes behind Majka, the General Classification of the Tour remains the same with Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome, both of Team Sky holding first and second position.
The Stage 15 Rankings
| RANK | RIDER | RIDER NO. | TEAM | TIMES | GAP | B | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MAGNUS CORT NIELSEN | 126 | ASTANA PRO TEAM | 04H 25′ 52” | – | B : 10” | – |
| 2 | JON IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI | 55 | BAHRAIN – MERIDA | 04H 25′ 52” | – | B : 6” | – |
| 3 | BAUKE MOLLEMA | 191 | TREK – SEGAFREDO | 04H 25′ 54” | + 00H 00′ 02” | B : 4” | – |
| 4 | MICHAEL VALGREN ANDERSEN | 128 | ASTANA PRO TEAM | 04H 26′ 21” | + 00H 00′ 29” | – | – |
| 5 | TOMS SKUJINS | 197 | TREK – SEGAFREDO | 04H 26′ 26” | + 00H 00′ 34” | – | – |
| 6 | DOMENICO POZZOVIVO | 58 | BAHRAIN – MERIDA | 04H 26′ 26” | + 00H 00′ 34” | – | – |
| 7 | LILIAN CALMEJANE | 181 | DIRECT ENERGIE | 04H 26′ 26” | + 00H 00′ 34” | – | – |
| 8 | RAFAL MAJKA | 114 | BORA – HANSGROHE | 04H 26′ 29” | + 00H 00′ 37” | – | – |
| 9 | NIKIAS ARNDT | 33 | TEAM SUNWEB | 04H 28′ 23” | + 00H 02′ 31” | – | – |
| 10 | JULIEN BERNARD | 192 | TREK – SEGAFREDO | 04H 28′ 30” | + 00H 02′ 38” |
