Chris Froome retains yellow jersey as Jarlinson Pantano wins stage 15 of the Tour de France

Jarlinson Pantano produced an excellent quick finish to win an exhausting stage 15 of the Tour de France on Sunday (17 July). The Colombian rider secured his maiden Grand Tour win and the first for Swiss team IAM Cycling by outsprinting King of the Mountains leader Rafal Majka at the end of a gruelling 160km grind from the eastern city of Bourg-en-Bresse through the Jura mountains to Culoz that featured six category climbs, including a tough finish at the horscategorie Col du Grand Colombier.

"This is incredible," Pantano, who had initially formed part of an early 30-man breakaway, said afterwards. "It's a dream come true. I came to the Tour de France for that but I didn't believe it could happen.

"I'm very happy. I've done it thanks to my teammates. I dedicate this victory to my wife and my team captain Mathias Frank who had to pull out because he was sick."

Team Sky's defending champion Chris Froome safely and comfortably navigated another day in the yellow jersey, finishing alongside lackluster rival Nairo Quintana and his other main competitors in the peloton more than three minutes off the front.

His general classification lead over Bauke Mollema still stands at one minute and 47 seconds, with Adam Yates remaining third after finishing the stage in 21st alongside several other riders including the Dutchman and closest white jersey rival Louis Meintjes.

Stage 16 on Monday is a lengthy 209km journey from Moirans-en-Montagne in Jura to the Swiss capital of Berne. There will then be a second rest day before four Alpine mountain stages, including a second individual time trial, leading up to the usual sprint finish on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.