Wellens' stage win underscores Team Emirates' Tour control

Pogacar held on to the overall lead with a 4min 13sec advantage on Vingegaard. This was a fifth win for UAE Team Emirates-XRG with Pogacar previously having won four stages on a thoroughly dominant Tour for the team

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AE Team Emirates XRG’s Tim Wellens won a baking and hilly stage 15 of the Tour de France at Carcassonne on Sunday after a 45km solo rampage towards the walled citadel.

Overall leader Tadej Pogacar held on to the overall lead with a 4min 13sec advantage on Jonas Vingegaard, who had to fight to catch up when caught behind an early mass fall.

Wellens had been part of an early break which only really got away once the fall sent a shockwave though the race.

It was a large and mixed group that was whittled down to five before the Belgian champion suddenly accelerated and caught the others napping.

This was a fifth win for Team UAE with Pogacar previously having won four stages on a thoroughly dominant Tour for the team.

Wellens was so far ahead at the finish line he had time to high five dozens of Belgian fans on the run in on the eve of Belgium's national holiday.

"This makes me happier than winning a stage myself," said Pogacar. "He helps me keep this thing every day," he said pointing to the jersey.