Alaphilippe Crashes, Mistakenly Celebrates Stage 15, Wellens Wins Tour de France

During Stage 15 of the 2025 Tour de France, Julian Alaphilippe mistakenly celebrated what he thought was a stage win despite finishing third behind Tim Wellens and Victor Campenaerts. Alaphilippe had crashed early in the stage, suffering a dislocated shoulder, and his race radio was broken, leaving him unaware that Wellens had already secured a solo victory. His team manager explained that the broken radio led to the confusion, and commentators reflected on the emotional and somewhat embarrassing moment, emphasizing Alaphilippe's determination and resilience despite the pain. Wellens' victory highlighted the continuing dominance of leader Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates. The event echoed a similar situation in 2020 when Alaphilippe prematurely celebrated a win but was overtaken and subsequently disqualified. Overall, the stage was noted for its drama, Alaphilippe’s grit, and the strategic challenges faced by other teams such as Jonas Vingegaard's Visma Lease-a-bike.