After the Vosges, now the Jura and into the Alps for the Tour de France with a summit finish.Le Bilan dAlsace: before the start Jordan Jegat told the media he couldnt be bothered to attack as the mood in the breakaways was not good, nobody wanted to work fully and they feared being gobbled up by UAE anyway. Its notable to see this expressed aloud.The stage started under a downpour but a few kilometres later there was warm sunshine for the intermediate sprint won by Jasper Philipsen ahead of Mads Pedersen in his green jersey.The Grand Ballon saw a group of 38 go clear including Tom Pidcock, fourth overall. If he was Thomas Piedcoque of Total or Tom van Pidkoek of Alpecin then he would have found plenty of others shaking their fists and swearing at him as it meant the bunch behind had to chase but hes a big name rider so the others struggle to voice concerns.Valentin Paret-Peintre was first over the climb and in time a move of seven was away with team mates Ben Healy and Richard Carapaz, team mates Einer Rubio and Pablo Castrillo, and twins Tobias Halland Johannessen and Anders Halland Johannessen. With Paret-Peintre sprinting for the win atop the Ballon dAlsace he became the virtual mountains leader but the peloton led by UAE was only 90 seconds behind and picking up the pace.The escapees were down to Tobias Halland Johannessen, Carapaz, Paret-Peintre and Rubio at the start of the Col du Haag and by the first ramp Tobias Halland Johannessen and Carapaz were clear. Then Carapaz. He had a minutes lead and behind Decathlon-CMAs Tiesj Benoot and Niclolas Prodhomme set the pace as Tom Pidcock was dropped and white jersey Juan Ayuso started to dangle at the back. Sep Kuss took over the pacing.Onto the cycle path and Florian Lipowitz accelerated and Paul Seixas followed but the move was over in a flash and perhaps more about being in a good position on the narrow road lined with dense crowds.Jonas Vingegaard led for a long time, stoically pulling the group as Remco Evenepoel was dropped. But at the Owl Hairpin Pogaar attacked and put daylight between everyone. Vingegaard set off in pursuit and Paul Seixas moved too a few metres behind the Dane and the two linked up at the top of the climb with Del Toro joining them. Behind Remco Evenepoel was back with Lipowitz and Ayuso and closing the gap.Pogaar won the stage of course but it was a finish where lots was going on behind. Del Toro finished second, mopping up the six second time bonus while Paul Seixas was third. Vingegaard came into the finish with them but lost six seconds in the sprint. Adrift earlier, Evenepoel closed in to four seconds of the Dane.The result of all this is Seixas moves up to fourth overall, 15 seconds behind Evenepoel, three seconds ahead of Ayuso which puts him in the white jersey, the youngest ever wearer. Heres the GC:Vingegaard is second but the amount of work he and his team are doing seems to be proving costly, his advantage on the other podium contenders has been eroded rather than bolstered but hell find the summit finishes to come more suitable. Its all bunching up with second to seventh place overall spread across 80 seconds.Jegats pre-stage interview was proved right but his idea is a self-fulfilling prophecy, a strong group going clear might have been able to take more time and UAE are intimidating but not full-strength.Another winner of the day was the new Col du Haag and the Vosges. This mountain range has often delivered mid-mountain stages but the Haag is a focal point now, a new option for the Tour. Also huge crowds, including many from Germany, made this a popular success too.The Route: 184km and 3,950m of vertical gain. Theres 22km to the unmarked Col de la Savine, all on big ring roads before descending into Morbier, known for its eponymous cheese and this year as a place where the mens Tour visits in one direction and then the women visit in the other direction next month. The climb to Les Rousses goes into the Jura mountains via a wide main road.Then comes a long descent but most of it not steep enough to freewheel as the course cruises down towards the Rhone valley. The climb out of Bellegarde to Laz would be categorised on many other stages but not here amid all that is to come.After 120km its time to get into position.Mont Salve is listed as 4.7km long but theres 4km of climbing before to get to the official start, gentler than what is to come but awkward as positioning counts for plenty here. From the village of Le Coin onwards the road has double-digit gradients, seemingly never below 10% but often 12-14% and with steep hairpins where it pays to lead and take the line that suits as the inside can stall some riders and the outside is too long.A tricky descent and then the pleonasm Cte du Mont is really the Col le Parc but nothing too hard.The Finish: its back to the Plateau de Solaison climb which has featured in the Tour de lAvenir once, three times in the Dauphin/Aura Tour including last June and now the the Tour de France for the first time. Why? Why not as it is a very tough climb, uncharacteristically steep for the French Alps and a solid 30 minute climb. Also the President of the Haute-Savoie department, who is behind this stage and the time trial to come, has a house in Brison.Its steep from the start, the flat road of the valley seems to smash into the mountain and in one bend it pitches up and stays steep but in shaded woodland. The profile above doesnt capture the flatter recovery section heading into the village of Brison mid-way out of the village its steep all the way up to the top.The Contenders: with the rest day to come, Tadej Pogaar (UAE) can use his team to go for his fifth stage win. Hes obviously stronger than the field although its notable hes taking more time out of rivals on the flat than straight summit finishes. Isaac del Toro, pictured on the Solaison climb, looked better on Stage 14 but was marking rather than making moves so the teams best bet is all on for Pogaar.Anyone else? Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) is a local of sorts as his grandparents live nearby and he knows the climb but this only helps so much. Its hard to get a win outright and if Pogaar is in the mood to gift or relinquish wins then its for Del Toro.Jonas Vinegaard (Visma-LAB) returns to the club where he half-wheeled to the win ahead of Primo Rogli and with hindsight, a symbolic moment in his rise and Roglis gentle decline. Vingegaards not actually losing much time to Pogaar on the climbs so could be close.The breakaway still has a chance as there are long stretches of road for a cohesive group to build up a lead, teams with ambitions for the finish can send a support rider. So Netcompany-Ineos may have plans for Thymen Arensman and these would be better suited if they can send Filippo Ganna or Josh Tarling up the road to help tow the move (perhaps with some Conti Gatorskin tires this tie). Likewise a Dylan Van Baarle for Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quickstep), a Casper Asgreen for Richard Carapaz (EF) again. So far, all the names from yesterdays stage so Tobias Halland-Johanessen (Uno-X) is a contender too. Fresher picks could include Michael Storer (Tudor), Harald Tejada, Ben OConnor and Luke Plapp (Jayco) but theyre not moving as well.PogaarVingegaard, Del Toro, Arensman, Carapaz, VP-PWeather: sunny, dry and 25C. A light tailwind for the start but this will vanish once over the Jura.TV: KM0 is at 1.20pm and the finish is forecast for 5.55pm CEST. If you want to tune for the Salve climb, start around 4.15pm.The post Tour de France Stage 15 Preview first appeared on The Inner Ring.

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It was as if the clanging of bells around the cows necks had called the people to worship. At the summit of Le Markstein, on an open, grassy patch of the Vosges mountains, fans held French tricolours in one hand, and slapped the hoardings in front of the podium ceremony with the other. Seixas! they chanted. Thud, thud, thud. In unison again: Seixas! Thud, thud, thud. They watched as Tadej Pogaar, this years Tour de France champion in waiting, stepped onto the stage three times first as the winner of stage 14, then to collect his yellow jersey, and again for the polka dot jersey but they only really cheered him out of politeness. Their hero was on his way. Hes just confirmed his talent, the voice over the loud speakers began, setting off a roar. In just a few moments, your new white jersey, Paul Seixas! And the volume went up another notch. Underneath a gazebo behind the podium, the 19-year-old spun his legs on a turbo trainer. He could hear the chanting and thumping, but with a week still to go, his recovery was paramount. Never before had he been this deep into a race; in fact, prior to this month, the most stages hed done in a row was eight. And still, somehow, as he heads deeper into the unknown, he only appears to be getting stronger. Third on Saturdays mountains test, Seixas moved from sixth to fourth overall, and into the white jersey the races youngest starter, also its best young rider. The results, however, barely told the story. Funnelling through the thousands that lined the curtain-closing Col du Haag, Seixas had thrilled the home crowds as he went in pursuit of two multiple-time Tour winners in Pogaar and Jonas Vingegaard.He might not have caught the former, but on the false flat that led to the line, he dashed beyond Vingegaard, onto the wheel of Isaac del Toro, and gapped the Dane by six seconds. If there were any Seixas doubters left before Saturday, they watched that sprint with their jaws on the floor. The Decathlon CMA CGM rider is now an undeniable podium contender 15 seconds off Remco Evenepoel in third, 49 off Vingegaard in second and the gap is coming down. I felt great, honestly, Seixas said after the stage. I want to thank the team for the work they did; they put me in the right place and it was the right pace for me. Of course, you have to be strong in the head. I just managed my effort, and I was feeling strong. (Image credit: Getty Images)Some wondered how the races youngest starter in 89 years would manage the toll of his first Grand Tour. Yes, hed won Itzulia Basque Country in April, but that was only six days long, and the intensity, particularly from the media, was far less. In Le Markstein on Saturday, journalists waited for Seixas in four heaving scrums along the barrier of the mixed zone. He stopped before each one, addressing them all, unfazed by the cameras and microphones thrust in his face.Im just enjoying the moment and not putting too much pressure on myself, he said. Of course there was an unknown element about these two to three weeks of racing. But its worth reminding that were professional riders, we train really hard, we do altitude training camps for three weeks, and they dont kill us. I think Ive also got the volume, Ive done more volume than last year, and Im managing to recover. For the moment, alls good. Theyre words that are unlikely to inspire confidence in Evenepoel or Vingegaard, both of whose podium places the Frenchman has in his sights. Pogaar, though more than five minutes ahead, has also been careful not to underestimate Seixas. Hes a contender, thats for sure, and a truly great champion, the world champion said after his victory on stage 14. Hes already a very good leader in his team, which is very strong and works very well for him. The public loves him. Hes the next French hope, so protect him and hell shine one day.For Seixas and the French fans, that day is now. Its incredible, honestly. Im living a dream, the teenager told reporters. For the moment, its better than I expected, but of course the main goal was to keep my form, keep my shape from the start to the end. I know what Im able to do. Today I really proved that I could do it after two weeks of racing. How far can he go? Honestly, I dont know for the moment, he said. I guess well see tomorrow if it goes like this. But for the moment Im doing the best I can, and well see.

Paul Seixas' Tour de France sports director Luke Rowe has explained why fans have seen perhaps a more conservative side to the French teenager after 13 stages of the race, noting that Decathlon CMA CGM are looking at the long term rather than falling into the pitfalls of a grand tour. The 19-year-ol...

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