Vingegaard keeps yellow jersey at Tour de France as Poels soloes to victory in 15th stage #Vingegaard #yellow #jersey #Tour #France #Poels #soloes #victory #15th #stage

SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC, France (AP) — Jonas Vingegaard kept intact his 10-second overall lead in the Tour de France as Dutch veteran Wout Poels soloed to victory after a tough trek in the Alps with a mountaintop finish.

Poels, who was part of an early breakaway in Sunday’s 15th stage, took advantage of a short but very steep ascent located just before the final 7-kilometer (4-mile) climb leading to the finish line to move away.

Wout van Aert finished second, more than two minutes behind, with Mathieu Burgaudeau completing the stage podium.

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the best young rider's white jersey, climb Joux Plane pass during the fourteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 152 kilometers (94.5 miles) with start in Annemasse and finish in Morzine Les Portes du Soleil, France, Saturday, July 15, 2023. (Bernard Papon/Pool Photo via AP)

Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard and two-time winner Tadej Pogacar could not separate themselves after a dramatic day for the Tour de France in the Alps.

Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski crosses the finish line to win the thirteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 138 kilometers (86 miles) with start in Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne and finish on Grand Colombier pass, France, Friday, July 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Former world champion Michal Kwiatkowski has soloed to the top of the Grand Colombier mountain on the Tour de France and Tadej Pogacar has cut a little more time off Jonas Vingegaard’s lead in the fight for the yellow jersey.

Spain's Pelle Bilbao crosses the finish line to win the tenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 167 kilometers (104 miles) with start in Vulcania and finish in Issoire, France, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Pello Bilbao has sprinted to his first Tour de France stage victory and also gained significant time in the overall standings.

Canada's Michael Woods approaches the finish line to win the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 182.5 kilometers (113.5 miles) with start in Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat and finish in Puy de Dome, France, Sunday, July 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Canadian Michael Woods delivered an impressive solo effort to claim the biggest success of his career at the top of a legendary climb of the Tour de France.

Locked in a pulsating fight for the yellow jersey since the start of the race, Vingegaard and two-time Tour winner Tadej Pogacar once again stayed together throughout the day in the group of main contenders.

Pogacar tried to sprint away from his rival 900 meters from the line but Vingegaard, the defending champion, immediately jumped on his wheel and did not lose any time. Their duel will resume in Tuesday’s time trial.

Monday is a rest day.