Nielsen wins Stage 15 of Tour de France
Sprint away from two challengers takes the Danish rider over the finish line
CARCASSONNE, FRANCE — Magnus Cort Nielsen of Denmark sprinted away from two other challengers to win Stage 15 of the Tour de France cycling race Sunday.
The Astana rider claimed his first career win at the Tour after staying ahead of Ion Izagirre and Bauke Mollema in a sprint over the final 200 metres of the hilly 181.5-kilometre leg from Millau that finished in a long descent to Carcassonne.
The three riders were the last of a breakaway group of 29 cyclists.
Geraint Thomas in the yellow jersey, second-placed Chris Froome and the rest of the overall contenders were in a pack more than 10 minutes behind and had not finished yet.
The race will have a rest day Monday. That pause precedes the four days in the Pyrenees, followed by the time trial on the penultimate day of the race.
The racing returns on Tuesday with Stage 16, a 218-kilometre mountain trek from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon.
Moscon expelled for hitting opponent
Team Sky rider Gianni Moscon was expelled from the Tour de France on Sunday after he appeared to deliberately hit a fellow cyclist during the race.
The Italian lashed out at French rider Elie Gesbert of Team Fortuneo while both were competing during Stage 15 from Millau to Carcassonne.
Sky team principal Dave Brailsford said in a statement that “we support and accept the decision by the race organizers to exclude Gianni Moscon from the Tour de France.”
Brailsford said Sky would consider taking further action against Moscon after the Tour concludes next weekend.
The 24-year-old Moscon was suspended by Sky for six weeks last year for using a racial slur against an opponent.
His expulsion leaves Sky with seven riders.