Froome still keeps Yellow Jersey after stage 15 with rear wheel failure

Team Sky cyclist still wears the yellow jersey of the 2017 Tour de France despite finishing only 28th, 6 minutes and 25 seconds behind stage winner Bauke Mollema.

With 40km to go, Team Sky and defending champion Chris Froome were in big trouble. Froome’s rear wheel had a serious problem, while the team’s support car was still far behind. Quick-thinking teammate Michal Kwiatkowski offered to swap the wheel, helping the 32-year-old maintain his number one position in the standings.

* Kwiatkowski volunteered to change wheels, helping Froome continue the race.

But Froome's dramatic escape could not overshadow Bauke Mollema's (Trek-Segafredo) absolute victory on stage 15. Having finished 19 seconds clear of the second-place finisher, the rider who won the overall green jersey at the 2011 Vuelta a Espana finally took his first Tour de France victory.

"This year, I really wanted to win a stage at the Tour de France. I've been aiming for this stage for a long time and now I'm very happy," Mollema said, pleased with his performance at the world's most exciting road cycling race. "In the last 30km, I tried my best to take the lead. Honestly, I didn't think I could leave such a big gap behind my rivals."

* Mollema finished 19 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

Back in the title race, Froome can breathe a sigh of relief as his formidable rivals Fabio Aru (Astana), Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) and Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) all finished in the same group as him. Of these, only Aru did not receive full support from his Astana teammates. On the contrary, Froome was optimally protected by Team Sky, who are leading the points table.

"I have to thank my teammates once again for their enthusiastic help. Sergio Henao and Mikel Nieve did everything they could. While Mikel Landa also supported me absolutely on the climb," Froome happily confided when he still kept the Yellow Jersey.

Froome excellently defended the Yellow Jersey despite an incident on stage 15. Photo: TDF.

However, the three-time Tour de France winner has to pay attention to the steady progress of Dan Martin. The Quick-Step Floors ace has steadily reduced the gap to Froome over the last four stages (from 1:44 to just 1:12). Currently in fifth place, he is waiting for a Froome slip-up to topple the Tour de France king.

* Main events of stage 15.

Today, July 17, the cyclists will have a rest before entering the final six stages of the race, starting tomorrow from Le Puy-en-Velay to Romans-sur-Isere with a route of 165 km.

Stage 15 results

1. Bauke Mollema (Dutch nationality/Trek-Segafredo team) 4 hours 41 minutes 47 seconds

2. Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium/BMC Racing) +19 seconds

3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway/Dimension Data)

Position board (Yellow Jersey)

1. Chris Froome (England/Team Sky) 64 hours 40 minutes 21 seconds

2. Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) +18 seconds

3. Romain Bardet (France/AG2R La Mondiale) +23 seconds

Scoreboard (Blue Shirt)

1. Marcel Kittel (Germany/Quick-Step) 373 points

2. Michael Matthews (Australia/Sunweb) 294 points

3. Andre Greipel (Germany/Lotto Soudal) 187 points

According to VNE