After several days in the high mountains, the runners of The return found a more affordable course this Sunday on the occasion of the 15th stage, despite more than 3000 meters of elevation gain between Vagadeo and Monforte de Lemos. As expected, the win was played in the breakaway and it is Mads Pedersen Who won! Leaving in the morning escape, then with a small group of strong in the finale, the Danes of the Lidl-Trek then set a sprint in small committee in front of Orluis aula (Movistar) et Marco Frigo (Israel-Prime Tech). A first victory for the green jersey of this Tour of Spain… which lifts (finally) arms at the end of the 2nd week. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | lease a bike) keeps her red jersey.
VIDEO – Mads Pedersen, winner of this 15th stage
The summary
The stage begins with an ascent of 16 kilometers, ideal for promoting an escape. Very quickly, nearly 50 runners gathered at the front, among them, fast men as Mads Pedersen (Lidl-trek), Orluis aula (Movistar) or Jake Stewart (Isarel-Prime Tech), or climbers like Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-trek), Junior Lecerf (Soudal Quick-Step) et Egan Bernal (Ineos grenadiers). Two men, Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG) et Louis Vervaeke (Sudal Quick-Step), go to the attack from afar and widen a three-minute gap, taking advantage of the lack of cooperation behind. The peloton points to him more than 10 minutes, led by the Visma | Lease a Bikewhile the Lidl-Trekwell represented in the counter group, tries to control.
In the last coast, 27 terminals from the line, a new group of favorites stands out with Magnus Sheffield, Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), Eddie Dunbar (Jayco simple), Marco Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-trek) et Orluis aula (Movistar). Together, they resume Vine et Vervaeke 6 kilometers from the finish. Bernal launches the first attack, opening a series of offensives, but Pedersen Go get everyone and let no one go out. Marco Frigo tries 500 meters from the line one last time, while Magnus SheffielD fall in a turn. But the Danish follows him and is the strongest in the final sprint. Pedersen is therefore necessary in front of Auxil et Fridge. The peloton Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease A Bike) goes the line with 13 minutes late. Which allows CICCCABE (now 13th), Bernal (14th) and especially Junior Lecerf to go back to the general classification. The latter rose to 9th place.
