Tuesday, July 16 had arrived. Rest day two had been completed, and riders were now lining up for the start of stage 16 of Tour de France 2024. Following Sunday’s remarkable fireworks in the mountains on Bastille Day, race organizer A.S.O. had opted for a 188.6-kilometer route along the Mediterranean coast from Gruissan to Nimes.

It was the final opportunity for sprinters in the Tour de France peloton to shine in this year’s Tour. The remaining five stages that followed from Wednesday were mountain stages and an individual time trial from Monaco to Nice. The sprinter teams were, therefore, expected to keep the race under control in support of Biniam Girmay, Jasper Philipsen, Mark Cavendish, and other powerful fast men.

Denmark’s Magnus Cort of Team Uno-X Mobility was spotted at the start of the stage flashing a fancy blue beard after having gained enough followers on his Instagram account. “Count Bluebeard” had been ordered to assist his team’s sprinter Alexander Kristoff in the stage finale. Chris Harper (Jayco-Alula) and Maxim van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) were non-starters and would be on the next planes home from France.

The weather conditions were sunny with significant heat as temperatures reached no less than 34 degrees Celsius. Multiple riders were spotted wearing their FlowBio hydration sensors to optimize their hydration and racing performance in the best possible manner in the hot weather.

It took a while before the first attacks were launched from the peloton after the stage start in Gruissan. Perhaps the warm weather was contributing to a reduced lust for participation in breakaway adventures, but it could also be due to the spreading dismay in the peloton related to the very low number of stage victories that had been granted to winners from breakaways in this year’s Tour.

While a few breakaway attempts had indeed been launched in the beginning of today’s stage 16 despite the negative outlook of success, all riders were within the main peloton when 150 kilometers remained.

A mediocre cruising speed was set by Alpecin-Deceunink, Jayco-Alula, and Visma – Lease a Bike at the front of the peloton. United Kingdom-based BuzzBike was rumored to be expanding its bike leasing business into Europe, so the Visma – Lease a Bike team needed television time for its team sponsor after Jonas Vingegaard had been unable to keep up with Tour de France leader Tadej Pogacar.

Things were unchanged when 100 kilometers remained of today’s stage. Riders were having a relaxed day in the saddle and were spending their time refueling before the grueling mountain stages to follow – and possibly chatting about new contracts, team changes and new sponsors in cycling. Ridley bikes has signed a contract to become bike sponsor for Team Uno-X Mobility from next season, and a Chinese bike manufacturer XDS will be funding Team Astana from next season as China is further expanding its ways of supporting Kazakhstan and Russia in these difficult times.

Magic happened in the peloton when Frenchman Thomas Gachignard launched a solo attack for his TotalEnergies team with 92 kilometers remaining. Spectators along the roads and at home woke to follow the action in what had otherwise been a very dull and mind-numbing stage.

Gachignard had fought his way to an advantage of approximately 01:40 minutes as forty kilometers remained before the professional cyclists would reach the stage finish line in Nimes in Southern France.

When thirty kilometers remained, his lead was down to just 49 seconds. Riders from the sprinter teams in the peloton were slowly increasing the pace while they initiated their preparations for the intended mass sprint finish. 

Gachignard was caught with 25 kilometer remaining. No luck for the Frenchman in today’s stage.

British sprinter ace Mark Cavendish (Team Astana) was riding his final Tour de France of a long and proud career. The Manx Missile was looking to add a record 36th Tour de France stage victory to his tally in today’s stage – a stage that was his final chance to experience the sheer pleasure of victory in the greatest Grand Tour of them all - Le Tour de France.

Three kilometers remained and the sprinter trains were gearing up at the front of the peloton. The speed was intense. It was the final opportunity for success for all sprinters in this year’s Tour de France.

The final kilometers were on a dangerous course featuring three roundabouts.

Lotto-Dstny and Uno-X Mobility riders were at the front with two kilometers left.

Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) crashed with 1.5 kilometers left as did two EF Education-EasyPost riders, including Neilson Powless.

Uno-X led Alpecin-Deceuninck in the final kilometer. Mathieu van der Poel was looking strong. Cavendish was nowhere to be seen. The Manx Missile had misfired in the final phase of the stage.

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) launched his sprint. Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) and Wout van Aert (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) tried to counter, but it was Philipsen who was the strongest rider on the day. 

Philipsen won today’s stage 16 ahead of Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious), while Alexander Kristoff completed the stage podium.

There were no significant changes to the general classification. Tadej Pogacar leads for UAE Team Emirates ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) before the Tour de France reaches the final mountain stages of this year’s edition of the legendary Grand Tour.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for additional coverage from Tour de France 2024.

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