Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) claimed his third victory at this yr’s Tour de France, cruising forward of Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X) in Nîmes on stage 16.
Regardless of a irritating begin to the race, winless within the first 9 levels, the Belgian started the third week as he completed the second, together with his arms in his air, celebrating at 70km/h.
The victory meant Philipsen is now again within the operating for the inexperienced jersey. Its wearer, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), was unable to contest the bunch dash after crashing inside 2km to go. He crossed the road minutes later, wheeled softly by his teammates.
The day was a poignant one for Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan), record-breaker on stage 5, who contested his ultimate dash end on the Tour. The Brit positioned seventeenth on the day, in the identical metropolis he gained his fourth stage on his race debut in 2008.
The highest three on the overall classification went unchanged on stage 16, with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates) nonetheless main Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) by three minutes and 9 seconds.
The way it occurred
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Stage 16 introduced the eighth and ultimate alternative for the fastmen at this yr’s Tour de France, providing them an easy course alongside the Mediterranean Coast, between Gruissan and Nîmes.
Eager to guard their sprinters’ final likelihood at glory, groups have been cautious about letting a breakaway go after the flag drop. Alpecin-Deceuninck policed strikes from the entrance of the peloton, controlling the bunch for Philipsen, who set out to attract degree with Girmay on three stage wins apiece on this version of the race.
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The primary flash of pleasure got here on the midway level, with 92km to go, when an intermediate dash supplied a gown rehearsal for the finale. Arrange by Alpecin-Deceuninck, the sprint was gained unexpectedly by Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), a person nonetheless in quest of his first Grand Tour stage win. Philipsen crossed the road second, and in doing so, clawed again minor inexperienced jersey factors on Girmay, who positioned fourth.
TotalEnergies rider Thomas Gachignard then used the momentary lull after the dash to launch a solo transfer. He nudged out his benefit to over two minutes, however, alone in 35-degree warmth, and with a slight headwind, the Frenchman’s assault by no means seemed like it might final. He was caught with 25km to go, after 65km out entrance, and obtained the day’s combativity prize for his effort.
Consideration swiftly turned to the run-in to Nîmes, and a succession of roundabouts the bunch must navigate. Inside 2km to go, it was on certainly one of them that Girmay hit the ground, ruling out his pop at a fourth stage win.
Uno-X led underneath the flamme rouge, earlier than Alpecin-Deceuninck bustled their approach to the entrance of the pack. With 400m to go, Mathieu van der Poel, the world champion, stretched out the peloton together with his ultimate lead-out dig, clearing area for Philipsen to lash away from his dash rivals and cross the road first.
The race returns to the mountains on Wednesday, with a summit end to SuperDévoluy, a ski resort within the Alps.
Outcomes
Tour de france 2024, stage 16: Gruissan > Nîmes (188.6km)
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 (Zaf) Lidl-Trek
10. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, all at identical time
Normal classification after stage 16
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Crew Emirates, in 67:35:56
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma-Lease a Bike, +3:09
3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step, +5:19
4. João Almeida (Por) UAE Crew Emirates, +10:54
5. Mikel Landa (Esp) Soudal-Fast Step, +11:21
6. Carlos Rodríguez (Esp) Ineos Grenadiers, +11:27
7. Adam Yates (GBr) UAE Crew Emirates, +13:38
8. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Lidl-Trek, +15:48
9. Derek Gee (Can) Israel-Premier Tech, +16:12
10. Santiago Buitrago (Col) Bahrain Victorious, +16:32
