Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre wins thrilling stage 16 atop Mont Ventoux - Yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar retained his strong grip on the GC standings

Mathieu van der Poel has been forced to abandon the Tour de France due to pneumonia, his team Alpecin–Deceuninck said on Tuesday.The 30-year-old Dutchman was 62nd in the Tour standings after stage 15.

INEOS Grenadiers’ Thymen Arensman won stage 14 of the Tour de France on Saturday, riding solo for the final 37km of a brutal day in the Pyrenees. Behind him race leader Tadej Pogacar added six seconds to his lead over Jonas Vingegaard.

Tadej Pogacar rampaged through the Pyrenees, winning atop Hautacam on stage 12, then demolishing the field in the time trial on stage 13, and those back-to-back wins have gone some way to ensuring the destiny of the Tour de France title is looking fairly well sewn up.

Tour de France continues on Sunday with Stage 15, where the riders will get a bit of relief from the high mountains, but not much.

Tim Wellens has claimed victory in Stage 15 of the Tour de France. The Belgian champion from UAE Team Emirates – XRG was part of a strong breakaway and dropped his rivals with a stunning attack more than 40 kilometers from the finish.

The Dutchman earned a much-needed win for Ineos on stage 14 as he held off the late charge of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard