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Narrow victory: Jasper Philipsen (r.) beat Wout van Aert
Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP
Jasper Philipsen has won stage 15 of the 109th Tour de France.
The Belgian clinched victory in the mass sprint on Sunday in temperatures of up to 40 degrees after 202.5 kilometers from Rodez to Carcassonne ahead of Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen.
Previously, a breakaway attempt by German champion Nils Politt and Denmark's Mikkel Honoré had ended after 145 kilometers.
Frenchman Benjamin Thomas held the lead up to 500 meters before the end, but was then caught.
Simon Geschke, who was born in Berlin, received the mountain jersey for the seventh time in a row.
In the overall standings, Jonas Vingegaard is 2:22 ahead of defending champion Tadej Pogacar.
Things were anything but smooth for the Dane.
The overall first was involved in a fall, but was able to catch up with the field.
But the race was over for two of his most important helpers: Primož Roglič from Slovenia, who was originally intended to be the captain, did not compete because of his fall injuries from the first week.
During the race, former Dutch Tour third-placed Steven Kruijswijk was hit and had to retire.
On Monday, the tour will have its last rest day before heading to the Pyrenees on Tuesday.
On Tuesday there are 178.5 kilometers from Carcassonne to Foix.
Organizers enforce extreme weather protocol
The race was dominated by the oppressive heat in southern France.
As the organizers announced before the stage, the extreme weather protocol of the Tour de France came into force.
There were three special rules.
The drivers were allowed to eat and drink from the start to ten kilometers before the finish.
Empty bottles were also allowed to be thrown away outside the garbage zones when cycling fans are standing on the side of the road.
In addition, the grace period was set to 20 percent of the stage winner's time, regardless of their average speed.
Extremely high temperatures prevailed in the southwest of France at the weekend.
The second highest weather warning level, orange, was declared in various departments.
kjo/dpa
