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Valence - Andre Greipel made it three Tour de France stage wins on Sunday as he won the 183km 15th stanza from Mende to Valence.
Despite three stitches in his left knee from a crash on Saturday, the burly German fended off compatriot John Degenkolb, Norway's Alexander Kristoff and Peter Sagan in the sprint finish.
Briton Chris Froome finished safely in the peloton to maintain his overall lead ahead of Nairo Quintana.
Before the 15th stage began, Briton Mark Cavendish, winner of the seventh stage in a sprint finish, had spoken of his desire to have a bunch finale.
And while he got his wish, the 30-year-old had been dropped within the first 10km on a tough uphill start to the race.
He was one of 23 riders to lose touch early on and they never managed to regain contact.
So when it came to the sprint finish, after a nine-man breakaway group was reeled in 30km before the finish, Greipel did not have his main challenger to contend with.
The German never looked troubled as he launched his sprint around 250 metres from the end.
Degenkolb was perfectly placed on his rear wheel with Kristoff behind that, but when they both darted out from behind the Lotto-Soudal rider's slipstream, neither had the strength to overhaul Greipel.
Sagan, as ever, finished like a bullet but had started his sprint from too far back and trailed in fourth, although he kept hold of the sprinters' green points jersey.
Having already won the second and fifth stages, Greipel, 32, matched his three stage wins from the 2012 edition, taking his total to nine.
With the final stage on the Champs Elysees in Paris still to come, the 'Gorilla from Rostock' could well yet better that mark.
Results from the 15th stage of Tour de France, a 183km ride from Mende to Valence on Sunday:
1. Andre Greipel (GER/LOT) 3h56min 35sec (average: 46.4 km/h)2. John Degenkolb (GER/GIA) at 0:00.
3. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 0:00.
4. Peter Sagan (SVK/TIN) 0:00.
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/MTN) 0:00.
6. Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU/CAN) 0:00.
7. Christophe Laporte (FRA/COF) 0:00.
8. Michael Matthews (AUS/ORI) 0:00.
9. Davide Cimolai (ITA/LAM) 0:00.
10. Florian Vachon (FRA/BSE) 0:00.
11. Jarlinson Pantano (COL/IAM) 0:00.
12. Jan Bakelants (BEL/ALM) 0:00.
13. Paul Voss (GER/BOA) 0:00.
14. Paul Martens (GER/LNL) 0:00.
15. Bryan Coquard (FRA/EUC) 0:00.
16. Julien Vermote (BEL/ETI) 0:00.
17. Brice Feillu (FRA/BSE) 0:00.
18. Gregory Rast (SUI/TRE) 0:00.
19. Kristjan Koren (SLO/CAN) 0:00.
20. Serge Pauwels (BEL/MTN) 0:00.
21. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 0:00.
22. Jan Brta (CZE/BOA) 0:00.
23. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 0:00.
24. Tanel Kangert (EST/AST) 0:00.
25. Tejay Van Garderen (USA/BMC) 0:00.
26. Nlson Oliveira (POR/LAM) 0:00.
27. Reto Hollenstein (SUI/IAM) 0:00.
28. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/BMC) 0:00.
29. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/TIN) 0:00.
30. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 0:00.
31. Robert Gesink (NED/LNL) 0:00.
32. Mickal Cherel (FRA/ALM) 0:00.
33. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 0:00.
34. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA/MTN) 0:00.
35. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 0:00.
36. Matthieu Ladagnous (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
37. Bauke Mollema (NED/TRE) 0:00.
38. Warren Barguil (FRA/GIA) 0:00.
39. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 0:00.
40. Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP/MOV) 0:00.
41. Rubn Plaza (ESP/LAM) 0:00.
42. Mathias Frank (SUI/IAM) 0:00.
43. Pierre Rolland (FRA/EUC) 0:00.
44. Martin Elmiger (SUI/IAM) 0:00.
45. Jos Serpa Perez (COL/LAM) 0:00.
46. Filippo Pozzato (ITA/LAM) 0:00.
47. Roy Curvers (NED/GIA) 0:00.
48. Benot Vaugrenard (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
49. Alberto Contador (ESP/TIN) 0:00.
50. Tony Gallopin (FRA/LOT) 0:00.
51. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/TRE) 0:00.
52. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 0:00.
53. Luis ngel Mat (ESP/COF) 0:00.
54. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 0:00.
55. Bartosz Huzarski (POL/BOA) 0:00.
56. Lars Ytting Bak (DEN/LOT) 0:00.
57. Gorka Izagirre (ESP/MOV) 0:00.
58. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/LNL) 0:00.
59. Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA/MTN) 0:00.
60. Michele Scarponi (ITA/AST) 0:00.
61. Adriano Malori (ITA/MOV) 0:00.
62. Andrew Talansky (USA/CAN) 0:00.
63. Bram Tankink (NED/LNL) 0:00.
64. Jacopo Guarnieri (ITA/KAT) 0:00.
65. Jos Mendes (POR/BOA) 0:20.
66. Kenneth Vanbilsen (BEL/COF) 0:22.
67. Angelo Tulik (FRA/EUC) 0:24.
68. Koen de Kort (NED/GIA) 0:37.
69. Pieter Weening (NED/ORI) 0:46.
70. Lieuwe Westra (NED/AST) 0:48.
71. Jens Debusschere (BEL/LOT) 0:49.
72. Matteo Bono (ITA/LAM) 1:01.
73. Jos van Emden (NED/LNL) 1:01.
74. Michael Andersen (DEN/TIN) 1:01.
75. Bryan Naulleau (FRA/EUC) 1:04.
76. Adam Hansen (AUS/LOT) 1:06.
77. Marco Haller (AUT/KAT) 1:14.
78. Zdenek Stybar (CZE/ETI) 1:18.
79. Georg Preidler (AUT/GIA) 1:21.
80. Tiago Machado (POR/KAT) 1:45.
81. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) 1:45.
82. Danilo Wyss (SUI/BMC) 1:45.
83. Wilco Kelderman (NED/LNL) 1:45.
84. Bob Jungels (LUX/TRE) 1:45.
85. Michael Schr (SUI/BMC) 1:45.
86. Arnaud Gerard (FRA/BSE) 1:45.
87. Luke Rowe (GBR/SKY) 1:45.
88. Nicolas Roche (IRL/SKY) 1:45.
89. Matteo Tosatto (ITA/TIN) 1:45.
90. Julien Simon (FRA/COF) 1:45.
91. Ian Stannard (GBR/SKY) 1:45.
92. Yohann Gene (FRA/EUC) 1:45.
93. Daniel Oss (ITA/BMC) 1:45.
94. Stef Clement (NED/IAM) 2:14.
95. Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA/ALM) 2:14.
96. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA/BSE) 2:14.
97. Marcel Wyss (SUI/IAM) 2:14.
98. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/IAM) 2:14.
99. Merhawi Kudus (ERI/MTN) 2:14.
100. Pierre-Luc Perichon (FRA/BSE) 2:56.
101. Luke Durbridge (AUS/ORI) 2:59.
102. Simon Geschke (GER/GIA) 3:18.
103. Cyril Gautier (FRA/EUC) 3:18.
104. Kristijan Durasek (CRO/LAM) 3:18.
105. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 3:41.
106. Dmitriy Gruzdev (KAZ/AST) 3:41.
107. Svein Tuft (CAN/ORI) 3:47.
108. Rohan Dennis (AUS/BMC) 4:21.
109. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/BMC) 4:21.
110. Giampaolo Caruso (ITA/KAT) 4:21.
111. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 4:21.
112. Damien Gaudin (FRA/ALM) 4:21.
113. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 4:21.
114. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/AST) 4:21.
115. Richie Porte (AUS/SKY) 4:21.
116. Nicolas Edet (FRA/COF) 4:21.
117. Daniel Navarro (ESP/COF) 4:21.
118. Albert Timmer (NED/GIA) 4:21.
119. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/EUC) 4:21.
120. Emanuel Buchmann (GER/BOA) 4:21.
121. Perrig Quemeneur (FRA/EUC) 4:21.
122. Winner Anacona (COL/MOV) 4:21.
123. Thomas De Gendt (BEL/LOT) 4:21.
124. Laurens ten Dam (NED/LNL) 4:21.
125. Michal Kwiatkowski (POL/ETI) 4:21.
126. Laurent Didier (LUX/TRE) 4:21.
127. Julian Arredondo (COL/TRE) 4:21.
128. Rigoberto Uran (COL/ETI) 4:21.
129. Michael Rogers (AUS/TIN) 4:21.
130. Rafael Valls (ESP/LAM) 4:21.
131. Jos Herrada (ESP/MOV) 4:21.
132. Leopold Knig (CZE/SKY) 4:21.
133. Tim Wellens (BEL/LOT) 4:21.
134. Daniel Martin (IRL/CAN) 5:26.
135. Adam Yates (GBR/ORI) 5:26.
136. Matteo Trentin (ITA/ETI) 5:26.
137. Rafal Majka (POL/TIN) 5:26.
138. Alberto Losada (ESP/KAT) 5:26.
139. Alexandre Geniez (FRA/FDJ) 5:26.
140. Wout Poels (NED/SKY) 5:26.
141. Tylan van Baarle (NED/CAN) 5:26.
142. Romain Sicard (FRA/EUC) 5:26.
143. Stephen Cummings (GBR/MTN) 5:26.
144. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/CAN) 5:26.
145. Louis Meintjies (RSA/MTN) 5:26.
146. Nathan Haas (AUS/CAN) 15:41.
147. Sam Bennett (IRL/BOA) 15:41.
148. Daniel Teklehaimanot (ERI/MTN) 15:41.
149. Marcel Sieberg (GER/LOT) 15:41.
150. Michal Golas (POL/ETI) 15:41.
151. Mark Cavendish (GBR/ETI) 15:41.
152. Mark Renshaw (AUS/ETI) 15:41.
153. Markel Irizar (ESP/TRE) 15:41.
154. Tyler Farrar (USA/MTN) 15:41.
155. Frdric Brun (FRA/BSE) 15:41.
156. Stijn Devolder (BEL/TRE) 15:41.
157. Anthony Delaplace (FRA/BSE) 15:41.
158. Florian Snchal (FRA/COF) 15:41.
159. Geoffrey Soupe (FRA/COF) 15:41.
160. Arnaud Demare (FRA/FDJ) 15:41.
161. Armindo Fonseca (FRA/BSE) 15:41.
162. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 15:41.
163. Imanol Erviti (ESP/MOV) 15:41.
164. Sebastien Chavanel (FRA/FDJ) 15:41.
165. Matthias Brandle (AUT/IAM) 15:41.
166. Jean Christophe Peraud (FRA/ALM) 15:41.
167. Peter Kennaugh (GBR/SKY) 15:41.
168. Simon Yates (GBR/ORI) 15:41.
169. Jrome Coppel (FRA/IAM) 15:41.
170. Sep Vanmarcke (BEL/LNL) 15:41.
171. Tom Leezer (NED/LNL) 15:41.
. Sebastian Langeveld (NED/CAN) Retired
