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EPABen CollinsBBC Sport journalist2 hours ago98 CommentsBelgian champion Tim Wellens claimed his first Tour de France stage victory with a breakaway win on stage 15.The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has worked for race leader Tadej Pogacar in the opening two weeks of the Tour but, freed from his domestique duties for the day, attacked on the final climb of the hilly 169.3km ride from Muret to Carcassonne.The 34-year-old ultimately won by one minute 28 seconds, with fellow Belgian Victor Campenaerts second and French two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe third.Pogacar crossed six minutes later in the peloton to maintain his lead of four minutes 13 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard in the general classification.Wellens’ victory was is a fifth stage win for UAE during this year’s race, with reigning champion Pogacar claiming the other four.»It is a very special victory,» said Wellens. «Everybody knows the Tour de France but not many people win in the Tour de France, so it was very beautiful.»After three gruelling days in the Pyrenees mountains, the 166 remaining riders faced a transitional stage before the second and final rest day of this year’s Tour in Montpellier.The stage looked set for a breakaway win and Wellens sensed his opportunity on the last of the three categorised climbs, up the Pas du Sant 55km from the line.Wellens emerged from a lead group of eight on the ascent, along with Michael Storer, Quinn Simmons and Campeanaerts.The group briefly reformed on the long descent to Carcassone but, moments later, Wellens attacked with 44km to go and the chasers never looked like closing the gap.»I felt super good,» Wellens added. «On the last climb of the day I felt really good. I knew the others felt really good but I knew I had to go solo. At the top of the climb I found my moment and I felt I had the legs to keep it to the end.»I knew I had to enjoy the moment and kept riding until the finish line because I wanted a big gap to enjoy it and maybe put my bike in the air after the finish — but I was so happy I forgot to do it.»Three-time Tour winner Pogacar added: «I am more happy for him than when I win. Beyond happiness.»The race resumes on Tuesday with a 171.5km ride from Montpellier and ending with a mammoth climb up Mont Ventoux.Pogacar said: «This week was one of the hardest second weeks of the Tour that I have ridden because of the terrain, the time trial on the climb [on Friday] and yesterday with 5,000m of elevation [gain].»The gap is now big but we still have big mountains to come. We need to fight until the end.»Stage 15 resultsTim Willens (Bel/UAE Emirates XRG) 3hrs 34mins 9secsVictor Campenaerts (Bel/Visma-Lease a bike) +1min 28secsJulian Alaphilippe (Fra/Tudor) +1min 36secsWout Van Aert (Bel/Visma-Lease a bike) Same timeAxel Laurance (Fra/Ineos Grenadiers)Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Jasper Stuyven (Bel/Lidl-Trek)Jordan Jegat (Fra/TotalEnergies)Michael Valgren (Den/EF Education-EasyPost)Valentin Madouas (Fra/Groupama-FDJ)General classification after stage 15Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Emirates-XRG) 54hrs 20mins 44secsJonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +4mins 13secsFlorian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +7mins 53secsOscar Onley (GB/Picnic PostNL) +9mins 18secsKevin Vauquelin (Fra/Arkea-B&B Hotels) +10mins 21secsPrimoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +10mins 34secsFelix Gall (Aut/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +12minsTobias Johannessen (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +12mins 33secsCarlos Rodriguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) +18mins 26secsBen Healy (Ire/EF Education-EasyPost) +18mins 41secsRelated topicsCyclingAdblock test (Why?)