Mollema winner in solo of the 15th stage of the Tour de France

Photo: Lionel Bonaventure Agence France-Presse
Dutch Bauke Mollema was preceded by 19 seconds, his first pursuers.

Le Puy-en-Velay — Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Trek) won solo the 15th stage of the Tour de France on Sunday at le Puy-en-Velay.

The British Chris Froome (Sky) retained the leader’s yellow jersey, on the eve of the second rest day.

Mollema was preceded by 19 seconds, his first pursuers, the Italian Diego Ulissi, france’s Tony Gallopin, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic, followed by another Frenchman, Warren Barguil.

The main group of favourites crossed the line with a delay of the order of more than 6 minutes. It was preceded by a handful of seconds by Irishman Dan Martin, who moved up to fifth place in the overall classification (1’ 12”).

The step (189,5 km), launched on the bases raised by Barguil, has taken a twist on the plateau of Aubrac, a group of 28 riders has been through before (6-7 minutes) the peloton.

The German Tony Martin, alone in the lead, has stumbled on the very steep slope of Peyra Taillade, the collar of the first category, is located before the last 30 kilometres. After the summit, the Dutchman Bauke Mollema has emerged to reach the finish solo.

Froome has been delayed by a wheel change while the team AG2R La Mondiale’s Romain Bardet, the child of the country, was launched on the offensive, with the approach of Peyra Taillade. The yellow jersey, distanced 45 seconds by his direct opponents, and managed to regain his place in the group of the favorites before the summit of the pass.

The Colombian Nairo Quintana, already struggling in the big Pyrenean stage on Thursday, has been dropped in Peyra Taillade. He crossed the line with a significant delay.

Mollema, who is 30 years of age, was imposed for the first time in a stage of the Tour. The Dutch, who became the lieutenant of the Spanish Alberto Contador in the Tour, has already been distinguished in the general classification he finished twice in the first seven (6th in 2013, 7th in 2015).

Seventh of the last Giro, Mollema has signed the first victory for the Dutch since the start of Düsseldorf.

A week from the finish in Paris, Froome has 18 seconds ahead of the champion of Italy’s Fabio Aru and 23 seconds over Bardet. The Colombian Rigoberto Uran, the first to jump in the wheel of Bardet when the French attempted a start, it is distanced only 29 seconds.