Stage 15 of the 2026 Tour de France takes the riders from Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison (Brison) over 183.9 kilometres. It is another demanding mountain stage, featuring two Category 1 climbs and a brutal uphill finish averaging 9%. With the first rest day looming, riders will be prepared to empty the tank in pursuit of a stage victory.
Stage 14 Review
Tadej Pogačar justified 1.60 favouritism when he attacked two kilometres from the summit of the final climb and soloed to another impressive stage victory.
He crossed the line 38 seconds ahead of teammate Isaac del Toro, who edged Sepp Kuss and Jonas Vingegaard in the sprint for second. Kuss and Vingegaard were credited with the same time after Kuss paid for doing much of the work on the final climb.
As expected, a strong breakaway established itself early, but UAE Team Emirates XRG kept it under control throughout the day. Richard Carapaz was the last survivor from the break and did everything he could to stay clear, but once the final climb began he simply didn’t have enough of an advantage.
My stage selection, Isaac del Toro, finished second, meaning the World Sports Betting money-back promotion came to the rescue. While he didn’t get the win, I still feel the stage played out largely as expected, with Pogačar willing to create opportunities for his teammates if circumstances allow.
Classification Update – click here to bet
Pogačar now leads Jonas Vingegaard by 4 minutes and 30 seconds in the yellow jersey standings, while less than a minute and a half separates the next six riders. Pogačar has shortened further and is now just 1.03 to win the Tour.
Mads Pedersen conceded a few points to Jasper Philipsen at the intermediate sprint but still holds a healthy 36-point advantage in the Green Jersey competition. He is now a 1.16 favourite to win the points classification.
UAE Team Emirates XRG continued to reduce Lidl-Trek’s advantage in the Team Classification. The gap now stands at 7 minutes and 26 seconds, with UAE now 1.40 favourites to win the competition.
Richard Carapaz again showed that he intends fighting all the way for the King of the Mountains jersey, while Valentin Paret-Peintre claimed maximum points on the early climbs. Pogačar nevertheless remains in the polka dots and is now a 1.83 favourite to win the classification, with Carapaz at 3.00 and Paret-Peintre at 4.50.
Stage 15 Profile
At 183.9 kilometres, Stage 15 is longer than Saturday’s mountain stage and features climbing throughout the day.
The riders leave Champagnole on rolling roads before reaching the intermediate sprint after just 17.3 kilometres. That could create an interesting tactical battle between Lidl-Trek and Alpecin-Premier Tech, with Jasper Philipsen looking to reduce Mads Pedersen’s lead in the Green Jersey standings.
Following the sprint, the peloton tackles the Category 3 Côte des Rousses, a 6.6-kilometre climb averaging 5.1%, before the route trends generally downhill for almost 100 kilometres, albeit with plenty of short rises to sap the legs.
The decisive part of the stage begins with the Col de la Croisette, a short but savage Category 1 climb of 4.6 kilometres at an average gradient of 11.2%. After a technical descent there is little opportunity to recover before the final ascent to Plateau de Solaison, an HC climb measuring 11.3 kilometres at a punishing average of 9%, with sustained double-digit gradients that are likely to create significant time gaps.
What to Expect
I think the first phase of the stage will revolve around the intermediate sprint. Lidl-Trek and Alpecin-Premier Tech may both look to keep the race together until then, either to defend or attack the Green Jersey competition.
Once that sprint has been contested, I expect a fierce battle to establish the breakaway, most likely beginning on the Category 3 climb.
Although UAE are more than capable of controlling the race, I have a feeling they will be content to let a strong break establish itself before managing the gap. They have repeatedly shown they are prepared to share stage opportunities among their teammates, while also keeping one eye on the Team Classification.
There is also the possibility that one of the podium contenders decides to put pressure on the other general classification riders on the steep final climb, but overall I slightly favour the breakaway prevailing.
The composition of that break will be critical. I expect UAE to place at least one satellite rider up the road, partly to provide support if required, but also to give themselves another chance of taking the stage.
Stage 15 Betting – click here to bet
- Tadej Pogačar – 1.57
- Richard Carapaz – 5.50
- Isaac del Toro – 15.00
- Tobias Halland Johannessen – 17.00
- Jonas Vingegaard – 17.00
- Thymen Arensman – 19.00
- Sepp Kuss – 34.00
- Paul Seixas – 41.00
Verdict
I think the breakaway has an excellent chance of succeeding on Stage 15. The combination of an early intermediate sprint, a difficult opening climb and a brutal summit finish should make it extremely difficult to control the race from start to finish.
Adam Yates dropped back relatively early on Stage 14, but he continued riding strongly to the finish, and I wonder whether that effort was made with Stage 15 specifically in mind. Michael Storer has yet to produce his very best form in this Tour, but he appears to be improving with every mountain stage and would be another dangerous rider if he makes the break.
Suggested Bets
- Adam Yates to win Stage 15 at 51.00
- Michael Storer to win Stage 15 at 81.00
Tour de France 2026 – Stage Winner Money Back Promotion
Back any rider to win any stage of the 2026 Tour de France, and if your selection finishes 2nd in that stage, World Sports Betting will refund your stake in World Coins, up to R5,000!
Promotion Details
- Promotion period: 4 July – 26 July 2026
- Valid on pre-match single (straight) win bets only
- Bets must be placed before the start of each stage
- Refunds are paid in World Coins
- Maximum refund: R5,000 per account
- Only real money bets qualify (free bets excluded)
- Only one qualifying refund per bet
- Cash-out bets do not qualify
- World Coins are subject to the standard World Sports Betting Free Bet Terms & Conditions
- Accounts must be verified and in good standing
How to Claim
Simply email promotions@wsb.co.za with Subject ‘TDF Stage’ to claim your refund within 72 hours of the stage finishing.
Disclaimer: Prices were correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
