The American Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) won alone on Sunday in Andorra la Vella at the end of the 15th stage of the Tour de France 2021. Away, the Frenchman Guillaume Martin will lose his second place in the general classification.

Slovenian Tadej Pogacar keeps the yellow jersey.

First victory on the Tour de France for the American Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma).

The climber won Sunday alone the 15th stage between Céret and Andorra la Vella, for the only foray of the event abroad.

Slovenian Tadej Pogacar remains comfortably with the yellow jersey on his shoulders.

On the other hand, the French Guillaume Martin, behind nearly three minutes by the group of the yellow jersey, lost his second place in the general classification.

The rider of the Cofidis team is now in 9th place.

General classification after the 15th stage:

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO / UAE) 62 h 07:18.


2. Rigoberto Urán (COL / EF1) at 5:18.


3. Jonas Vingegaard (DAN / JUM) 5:32.


4. Richard Carapaz (EQU / INE) 5:33.


5. Ben O'Connor (AUS / AG2) 5:58.


6. Wilco Kelderman (PB / BOR) 6:16.


7. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ / AST) 7:01.


8. Enric Mas (ESP / MOV) 7:11.


9. Guillaume Martin (FRA / COF) 7:58.


10. Pello Bilbao (ESP / BAH) 10:59.

First American victory since 2011

In this 191 km long 15th stage, Sepp Kuss was 23 seconds ahead of veteran Spanish Alejandro Valverde, 41 years old and second on the stage.

Dutchman Wout Poels took third place.

It was another magnificent solo victory on the Tour today as @seppkuss triumphed in Andorra la Vella!



See the final KM ⬇️



Another solo victory!

@seppkuss wins in Andorra after a decisive attack in the Col de Beixalis! # TDF2021pic.twitter.com / EsVKzHK7Bc

- Tour de France ™ (@LeTour) July 11, 2021

Sepp Kuss (26), who lives in Andorra, won the Tour de France for the first time for his second participation.

Last year, while serving Slovenian Primoz Roglic, he finished 4th at the Col de la Loze.

In this sunny stage, a breakaway river of 32 riders developed in the first hour of the race.

Pogacar and his Team Emirates teammates let the gap widen to around ten minutes.

This group long led by Bruno Armirail who worked for the French David Gaudu (7th of the stage finally) saw its advantage diminish as it approached the Franco-Andorran border, before the last 50 kilometers, where the Movistar teams and especially Ineos accelerated. Up front, Colombian Nairo Quintana swung into the lead at the windswept summit of Envalira, the highest point of this edition (2,408m). He attacked again in the leading group reduced to 18 riders at the foot of the last ascent, Beixalis (6.4 km at 8.5%). But Kuss was the strongest on this climb before maintaining his advantage in the descent over Valverde.

Sepp Kuss is the first American to win the Tour since 2011 (Tyler Farrar). A good performance for the native of Colorado who will be able to take advantage, like all the other runners still in the running, of a day of rest on Monday. The next stage on Tuesday will also be mountainous, with a route of 169 km between Pas de la Casa (Andorra) and Saint-Gaudens (Haute-Garonne).