The American Sepp Kuss won the 15th stage of the Tour which landed in Andorra where the American lives. It is the first time in 10 years that an American rider has won a stage of the Tour. The climber of the Jumbo-Visma took to the chase all alone from the first percentages of the ascent of the Col de Beixalis just before arriving in Andorra la Vella where the Grande Boucle had not planted its caravan since 1964. “It's incredible, I have no words,” says the American. It's a really crazy and moving thing because my girlfriend and my family who are on vacation in Spain came to the finish line. I wasn't sure I had the legs to hold it until the end, but I did. I am so happy. It's incredible!"
🏅It was another magnificent solo victory on the Tour today as 🇺🇸 @seppkuss triumphed in Andorra la Vella!
See the final KM ⬇️
🏅A new solo victory!
🇺🇸 @seppkuss wins in Andorra after a decisive attack in the Col de Beixalis! # TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/EsVKzHK7Bc
- Tour de France ™ (@LeTour) July 11, 2021
The oldest of the peloton Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) took second place and failed to catch up with the US rider in the last very technical and fast descent.
And the French?
They did not have an ideal day.
Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) lost his second place in the general classification.
He even descends from the provisional podium and will probably not find it before arriving in Paris.
The Normand tumbles to 9th position in the general classification, 7 minutes from the yellow jersey.
His goal now is to keep this place in the Top 10 until Paris.
Pogacar, stronger than ever
David Gaudu (Groupame FDJ) and Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck) managed to slip into the good breakaway of the day which started very quickly with around thirty men. But the two Habs did not have the legs to try an even bigger blow. Both are content with places of honor. Too bad for the world champion since the race passed about 200 m from his home in the Principality. Another bad news for the tricolor clan: Nacer Bouhanni, his only chance to win a sprint in the last week, gave up at the start of the stage, poorly recovered from his fall in Friday's stage.
The yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar meanwhile managed despite the absence in the final of his teammates. He was attacked in the final by his more dangerous rivals. Richard Carapaz (Ineos), Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo) or Rigoberto Uran (EF Education) have in turn tried to put the boss of the peloton in the red. But none have succeeded. He has a 5'18 ′ 'lead in the standings over his new runner-up, the Colombian Uran. That's more than the day before when Martin came back to 4′04 ′ '. For the moment, Pogacar, more solid yellow jersey than ever, remains untouchable. While waiting for a glitch always possible from the Slovenian in the last week (3 big stages in the Pyrenees + one against the clock), Carapaz, Vingegaard and Uran will fight to accompany him on the Champs-Elysées in a week.
The only distinctive jersey that changes shoulders at the end of this day is that of the best climber. Michael Woods sells it to Wouter Poels (Barhein Victorious).
