Tony Gallopin

Tony Gallopin of Lotto Soudal is the new GC Point d’Appui after Stage 15 of the 2016 Tour de France. The peloton is reduced to 183 riders, and Gallopin finished 92nd, one place ahead of Peter Sagan, who held the Point d’Appui earlier in the race.

Also close to the fulcrum are Alexey Lutsenko, Anthony Delaplace and Michael Valgren, each of whom has been on the cusp at the end of earlier stages.

It is Gallopin’s first time in the grey jersey. He held the 2014 tour’s yellow jersey briefly during the 2014 race and also won Stage 11 that year. This is his sixth Tour de France. He has placed as low as 78th in 2011 and as high as 29th in 2014. He has been riding in support of sprinter André Greipel, but the Lotto Soudal team has suffered misfortune, the latest being the abandon of Jens Debusschere, who suffered a crash on Stage 14, limped to the finish but wasn’t able to start Stage 15.

Jesus Herrada of Movistar Team had to abandon Stage 15 during the race due to fever and stomach illness.

A grand Colombian, Jarlinson Pantano of IAM Cycling, won Stage 15 after twice climbing over the heights of the Grand Colombier.

The race leader remains Christopher Froome of Sky, who came home with most of the GC contenders. The only GC rider who fell back was Tejay Van Garderen, coming in 1 minute 28 seconds behind the other leaders. His teammate Richie Porte is now in the lead for BMC. Sam Bennett remains the Lanterne Rouge, now 3 hours, 26 minutes and 14 seconds behind the leader.