Stage 15 of the Tour de France saw victory for Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious), a duelling Jonas Vingegaard v Tadej Pogacar – minus the motorbikes, a break full of French VeloVoices favourites, Wout Van Aert Wouting big style and my absolute favourite UAE Team Emirates Marc Soler being PEAK Soler, for reasons unknown.
The break of the day contained a whole hatful of stage hunters, most notably the presence of Jumbo-Visma’s Wout Van Aert and Tadej teammate Marc Soler.
The tiger WVA jumped in the breakaway and the crocodile Soler was quick to answer. Huge fight at the moment. #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/YvUcdzkDvg
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) July 16, 2023
Soler: "not the bloody tiger jumping again"
— Katie (@medicinexthings) July 16, 2023
What was the tactic today? Were they out front for their team leaders to bridge to or were they given a pass to go the win? No one knew, and to be honest I’m not sure the main players did either!
To my utter delight this happened with 50km to go…
Soler is having one of his inevitable WTF moments, I see. #TDF2023 https://t.co/Bams90peiL
— Aleksandra Górska (@miss_gorska) July 16, 2023
There is literally zero reason for Soler to do this
— Ryan Duff (@RyanDuff99) July 16, 2023
Could this be a flash back to the peak Movistar Soler moment
Marc Soler pull your radio out and fly
— Katie (@medicinexthings) July 16, 2023
Wout WOUTED
💪 Let's go! @WoutvanAert on the attack to catch @solermarc93.
💪 C'est parti ! @WoutvanAert attaque pour aller chercher @solermarc93.#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/XUMH270tjt
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 16, 2023
THREE Wouts appeared at the front: Wout Poels, Wout Van Aer and Wout Soler
🚀The chase group is collaborating well, but they are losing time to this trio, who now has a lead of 1'
🚀Le groupe de poursuivants collabore bien, mais il perd du temps par rapport à ce trio, qui a maintenant une avance de 1' #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/TkphV7hdXt
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 16, 2023
UAE brought a Marc to a Wout fight. #TDF2023
— Ben Atkins (@benatkins_uk) July 16, 2023
They dropped him once and he came back, but ultimately Wout Poels had the best legs of the day and dropped them both.
WOUT SOLER IS BACK! #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/WWOKFvTpKs
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) July 16, 2023
We still thought there was a plan for Wout and Marc, some more serious than others.
Given how close it is between Pogacar and Vingegaard, I cannot understand why Soler and Van Aert would be going for the win today. Unless Van Aert is bluffing and goading Soler to go for the win, stop and help Vingegaard#TDF2023
— F Λ B R I Z I O (@fabrizioviani) July 16, 2023
Soler and Van Aert are waiting up the road to push the motos out of the way for the GC group
— How The Race Was Won® (@Cyclocosm) July 16, 2023
Only one Wout was victorious. With the GC battle kicking off poor Wout P had limited screen time for us to appreciate his victory. It was a beautifully judged attack and perfectly paced climb.
😍Ecstatic.
😍Extatique. #TDF2023 | @woutpoels | @BHRVictorious pic.twitter.com/kp0iDJvT81
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 16, 2023
His Magnificence Mr Wout Van Aert took second step
🇫🇷 #TDF2023
Poels wins the stage. Wout comes in second.
Great ride, Wout! 👏🏼
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 16, 2023
and Marc Soler?
Finished 20th on the day, but I don’t care. I enjoyed every single mouth agape, screaming aggression minute of it. FLY FLY SOLER
I don’t always understand Marc Soler #TDF2023
— Anna Mac 👑🪱 🌈🖤 (@AnnamacB) July 16, 2023
Stage results
🦸♂️ Wout Poels, once called a super domestique, can now add Tour de France Stage winner to his name. Another breakaway that stayed away, and another battle between GC P1 and P2.
We're ready for the rest day, but for now enjoy the 🇬🇧 highlights of stage 15#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/Md3JyPI8hb
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 16, 2023
🏆 Rankings and jerseys after stage 15.
🏆 Classements et maillots distinctifs après l'étape 15.#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/oZtWc4tm8H
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 16, 2023