UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Tim Wellens Achieves Historic Stage Win At Tour De France 2025

Tim Wellens achieved a significant milestone by winning his first Tour de France stage on Sunday. The Belgian national champion excelled in stage 15, securing UAE Team Emirates-XRG's fifth stage victory in the race. Wellens capitalised on the rolling terrain from Muret to Carcassonne, joining an early breakaway and conserving energy for a decisive solo attack.

With 43.5km remaining, Wellens made his move, distancing himself from his breakaway companions. He steadily increased his lead, eventually finishing over a minute ahead of the next rider. This performance exemplified how to win from a breakaway, with Wellens celebrating as he crossed the finish line.

The victory in Carcassonne marked a landmark moment for Wellens, completing his collection of stage wins across all three Grand Tours. Having previously won stages at both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España, he became the 113th rider to join the prestigious 'Treble Club.’

During stage 15, Wellens was part of a breakaway group that included notable riders like Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), Victor Campenaerts and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike). His strategic move paid off as he claimed victory with a time of 3:34:09.

Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished second, trailing by 1:28, while Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) secured third place at +1:36. In the overall standings after stage 15, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) maintained his lead with an overall time of 54:20:44.

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) held second place in the general classification, trailing by 4:13. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) occupied third place with a gap of +7:53. These results highlight the competitive nature of this year's Tour de France.

The triumph in Carcassonne not only added to UAE Team Emirates-XRG's success but also solidified Wellens' status as an accomplished cyclist. His strategic prowess and determination were evident throughout the race, making this victory particularly memorable for him and his team.

With inputs from WAM