Tour de France Stage Report: No disaster for Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) on stage 16 as he was piloted perfectly to his third stage win of this Tour. The same can’t be said of points leader, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), who crashed on the run-in to the sprint. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) was second and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility), who won here 10 years ago, was third. All the GC men finished with the peloton ahead of the next hard stages.
Stage 16 finale
Jasper Philipsen revived his battle for the green jersey. The Alpecin-Deceuninck Belgian took his third stage victory in this Tour de France in Nîmes, as the green jersey, Biniam Girmay, crashed in the final kilometres. Philipsen was too fast for Phil Bauhaus and Alexander Kristoff.
2024 stage win No.3 for Jasper Philipsen
Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France general director: “The sprinters may be heavily tipped for success when the race heads away from the coast near Narbonne, and maybe even when the riders pass over the Pic Saint-Loup. But the Mistral can blow fiercely at this time of year and could well upset the plans of the sprinters if those teams that feel at home when it’s windy end up scattering the peloton.”
Stage 16 profile
The tough final week of the Tour de France opens in stage sixteen with a flat stage from Gruissan to Nîmes. In 187 kilometres the riders race from the Pyrenees to the Alps without visiting the mountain ranges. The remaining sprinters must seize their very last chance here, because this year there will be no sprint on the final day in Paris. The entire ride is flat to rolling, with the only obstacle being halfway along the course. The riders then have to cross the Côte de Mas Cordon. The 7 kilometre climb at 3.4% is the most difficult climb of the day. A sprint therefore seems the most likely scenario in Nîmes, but one never knows whether the Mistral has other plans.
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla) at the start – Will he be on the ball at the finish?
Remco Evenepoel showing his football skills
After a long neutralisation, the Tour started again after the last rest day. The first attack of the day was not long in coming: it was Stefan Küng who tried to set up an early break. However, the Swiss rider of Groupama-FDJ was unable to get anyone with him and decided to give up. After Küng was caught, the peloton rode at a leisurely pace and there appeared to be no interest in an escape.
Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) with different colour moustache
Yellow and green jerseys
Kévin Niets thought he would put in an attack. Several riders followed him, but this more turned out to be very short-lived. Alpecin-Deceuninck then set the pace for their sprinter, Jasper Philipsen, one of the favourites for the day’s victory. The Belgian team had some help from Jayco AlUla for Dylan Groenewegen and the pace did increase.
Youth and KOM
The start from Gruissan for 188.6km
Led by Silvan Dillier, the peloton rode at a decent speed to the intermediate sprint in Les Matelellettes, after more than 80 kilometres of racing. Despite Biniam Girmay’s lead in the points classification, there was still a lot of competition. After a lead-out from Mathieu van der Poel, it was up to Philipsen to take the sprint, but the Belgian was passed by Bryan Coquard. Philipsen was second and with 4 more points than Girmay, who crossed the line in fourth.
The last winner in Nîmes – Alexander Kristoff Alexander (Uno-X Mobility) 2014
The peloton wanted to ride together
After the intermediate sprint, calm seemed to return to the peloton, but Thomas Gachignard thought this was a good time to goon a solo adventure. The Frenchman built a lead of more than 2 minutes, but he must have known it was pointless. It was too much for the TotalEnergies rider in the end, but Gachignard was awarded the Prize for Combative Spirit. He was caught just under 30 kilometres from the finish.
The fans were out
Would anyone try to break away?
In the final 30 kilometres, the nervousness in the peloton increased as the GC teams came to the front due to the fear of possible echelons. Johannes Kulset (Uno-X Mobility) was having problems behind the peloton. The Norwegian crashed in the run-up to the finale. He was soon back on the bike and was being taken back to the peloton by his team car, but they missed an exit on a roundabout, resulting in a near collision.
Pogačar was keeping a close eye on Vingegaard
There should be a good crop of grapes for the wine this year
Fortunately for Kulset and Uno-X Mobility, it all ended without a crash and the rider was able to take his place in the peloton again after a frantic chase. In the peloton it was all hands on deck, as Groupama-FDJ attempted to start an echelon. The French team didn’t received any help from other teams and the speed dropped. In the final kilometres to Nîmes, the sprint trains were starting to form and there was going to be a battle between the fast men for the last time in the 2024 Tour de France.
At last someone broke away – Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies)
Gachignard didn’t have much of a chance, but he gave it a go
Uno-X Mobility and Jayco AlUla led the peloton at first, while the Alpecin-Deceuninck sprint train got organised. On one of the roundabouts there was a crash with Biniam Girmay as the main victim. The Eritrean would not be in the sprint for victory and the points for the green jersey. Philipsen could make the most of it.
The sprinter’s teams started to lift the pace
Philipsen was piloted perfectly in the last kilometre, first by Robbe Ghys and then World champion, Mathieu van der Poel. The rainbow jersey put in another of his famous lead-outs and was able to perfectly jettison his teammate. Philipsen rewarded the work of his teammates and was too fast for Phil Bauhaus, Alexander Kristoff, Sam Bennett and Wout van Aert.
Gachignard was about 25 kilometres from Nîmes
Philipsen took his third stage victory in the 2024 Tour de France and also did very well in the battle for the points prise. Before the start of the stage, the difference to Girmay was 86 points, now the Eritrean’s lead is only 32. Girmay crossed the line with help from two teammates. He seemed a bit battered, but the damage seems not to be too bad.
The peloton was all together as it thundered towards Nîmes
Stage winner, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “I’m really happy, definitely, after such a team effort. It’s always nice when you can win together with your teammates as we did today. I haven’t seen Bini’s crash. I was with my teammates, focusing on our own lead-out. I hope everybody is ok. I was feeling good. I had a good rest day and I feel my shape has been improving over this Tour de France. I was confident that we could win today if we lined everything up ahead of the sprint. Every stage win is really hard to get at this level. Taking three is a very good job. We can be proud. Green jersey? Everything is possible, but it’s really hard as Bini is climbing really well. I hope he is fine after the crash, because he doesn’t deserve to lose the Points classification like this, because of a crash. I will try whatever I can, knowing that there are very hard stages yet to come. We will go day by day, while also enjoying every victory.”
Philipsen finished the job of his team
Overall leader and KOM, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “I’m happy today’s stage wasn’t as windy as expected. There were some crucial moments on which we had to hit the front, but otherwise it was an easy stage and I’m happy it’s already done. The Tour de France sprint stages are quite unique, in the sense that there is always a little bit of danger to avoid, as well as tricky sections on which you have to be very focused in order to stay out of trouble. I’m happy that the sprint stages are over, even though there are some tough stages to come. Tomorrow’s, for example, will be windy at the beginning and has some mountains at the finish. Anyway, I think the next two stages are due to be breakaway days. The final three stages will be the real showdown between the GC guys.”
Crash for Biniam Girmay in the finale
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Tour de France Stage 16 Result:
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck in 4:11:27
2. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious
3. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
4. Sam Bennett (Irl) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
5. Wout Van Aert (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
6. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Israel-Premier Tech
7. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Cofidis
8. Søren Wærenskjold (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
9. Ryan Gibbons (SA) Lidl-Trek
10. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.
Tour de France Overall After Stage 16:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates in 67:35:56
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma | Lease a Bike at 3:34
3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step at 5:44
4. João Almeida (Por) UAE Team Emirates at 11:19
5. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 11:45
6. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Quick-Step at 11:46
7. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Team Emirates at 14:03
8. Derek Gee (Can) Israel-Premier Tech at 16:12
9. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 16:13
10. Santiago Buitrago Sanchez (Col) Bahrain Victorious at 16:57.
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