TOUR DE FRANCE 2024 | STAGE 16 | GRUISSAN > NÎMES
NÎMES, France (July 16, 2024) — Stage 16 of the 2024 Tour de France was won brilliantly by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in Nîmes, outpacing his rivals to the line with a powerful acceleration, perfectly set up by his World Champion teammate Mathieu van der Poel. A crash for the man in the green jersey, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), with 1.5km to go unfortunately meant he was not there to contest the final sprint. An exciting bunch sprint resulted in Philipsen crossing the line ahead of Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X) for his third win of this year’s Tour. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) celebrated his 100th day of Tour de France racing by securing the Yellow Jersey for the 35th time in his career, with no changes at the top of the GC on the first day back on the road after Monday’s rest day. Behind Pogačar in the overall standings, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) remain respectively 3’09” and 5’19” adrift of the Slovenian star.
Back in action
Following the news yesterday that Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) and then this morning Chris Harper (Team Jayco AlUla) had withdrawn from the Tour due to Covid-19 symptoms, there were 150 riders at the start line for Stage 16. Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) then Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies) left the peloton in the first kilometre but sat up when they realised that there were no further volunteers to accompany them in the breakaway. The race therefore progressed at a moderate pace during the first hour with 37.9 kilometres covered, before the average speed significantly increased in the second hour of racing (with 44.8 km covered). At the Matelettes intermediate sprint (km 96.1) Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) got to the line first, while Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was second, with Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) fourth.
Gachignard goes solo
After the intermediate sprint Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) went solo, leaving the peloton and building a 2’20” advantage by the time he reached the top of the only categorised climb of the stage at Côte de Fambetou (Cat 4, km 112.6). The peloton did not look overly concerned about Gachignard’s breakaway efforts at any point with Jayco-AlUla collaborating with Alpecin-Deceuninck at the front of the bunch to offset any potential threat from the relatively light crosswinds. 25 kilometres from the finish line a peloton led by Groupama-FDJ calmly caught the solo attacker, who was named at the most combative rider of the stage for his efforts.
Another bunch sprint in Nîmes
Nîmes has hosted several bunch sprint finishes in the past and that was the case again as the peloton flew through the elegant city streets towards the final straight. An unfortunate crash for green jersey Girmay at a roundabout inside the final 2km sadly denied him of the chance to participate in the final sprint which was ultimately won with aplomb by Philipsen ahead of Bauhaus and Kristoff.
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “Every Stage Win Is Really Hard to Get”
“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.”
Thomas Gachignard (Totalenergies): “The Goal Is Not to Miss Any Breakaways Before Nice”
“It’s nice to be a bit of a protagonist up front. I was sick at the start of the Tour, and I had difficulty recovering. The objective today was to protect Anthony for a sprint, and also to be present after the intermediate sprint. I attacked and created a gap in front of the peloton. No one followed me and I quickly dug in. I knew it was complicated, as the race was going so fast. I didn’t believe in victory. We already knew before the start that it was 95% likely for a sprint. Still, I had to try and show the jersey and to gain a little confidence in myself. There will be two stages suitable for the breakaway tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and we will do everything possible to show that we have our place at this Tour de France. The goal is not to miss any breakaways between here and Nice. Our Tour is already successful with Anthony’s victory in the first week. Everything that happens from here is a bonus.”
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty): “I Just Found Myself on The Ground”
“Unfortunately, today was not an easy finish. We know this is the last sprint stage and everybody gets more excited and tries to do as much as they can in the front. I also try to be there. There were also a lot of roundabouts in the last 10km. It’s narrow at every roundabout and then suddenly, I don’t know who it was from EF, we touched handlebars, he went inside me and then I didn’t have nothing to do, I just found myself on the ground. But luckily I’m able to ride, so that’s the good thing. I hurt my knee and and I have two stiches in my elbow but it’s not a problem. To be honest mentally I’m ok so we will see tomorrow and hopefully I’m going to be ok. When I crashed and I got up I saw that I could ride my bike and I was happy. For me I don’t care if I lose this jersey or I keep it, I’d just like to like to arrive in Nice without any trouble. Still now, it’s not finished yet so I’ll try to fight.”
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step): “This Was the Job To Do Today”
“Today the wind was strong at the start of the stage, then it weakened over the kilometres and at the end it almost became a day of rest. I stayed with Yves Lampaert, who fulfilled his mission perfectly by positioning me at the front of the peloton and keeping me safe from any problems. This was the job to do today. I think that tomorrow and the day after tomorrow will be days for breakaways, so it will be calmer for us. Then I will have to prioritise looking at those behind me in the general classification to keep my place on the podium, but I have a good margin on them. So I think I’ll ride more defensively, and we’ll see if it’s possible to do something else. If the Tour could stop today, I would say ok.”
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “The Final Three Stages Will Be the Real Showdown”
“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.”
TOUR DE FRANCE 2024 | STAGE 16 | GRUISSAN > NÎMES | DAILY STATS
69.0: ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK LEAD PHILIPSEN TO VICTORY
The speedy finale in Nîmes displayed Alpecin-Deceuninck’s mastery when it comes to leading out their sprinter. Robbe Ghys battled for positions and drove the train into the last 400 metres, with a speed of 63.3km/h when he dropped his leaders. Mathieu van der Poel took over, speeding up to 65.2km/h… And then it was time for Jasper Philipsen to deliver, with a top speed of 69.0km/h!
3X3: PHILIPSEN MATCHES GIRMAY AND POGAČAR
With Jasper Philipsen sprinting to victory in Nîmes, 3 riders have now won 3 stages in the Tour 2024: – Biniam Girmay, in Turin (stage 3), Colombey-les-Deux-Églises (stage 8) and Villeneuve-sur-Lot (stage 12) – Tadej Pogačar, at Valloire (stage 4), Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet (stage 14) and Plateau de Beille (stage 15) – Jasper Philipsen, in Saint-Amand-Montrond (stage 10), Pau (stage 13) and Nîmes (stage 16). The last Tour with at least 3 riders claiming at least 3 stage wins each was the 2021 edition, marked by Mark Cavendish (4 wins), Tadej Pogačar (3) and Wout van Aert (3).
90/100: THE OMNIPRESENT TADEJ POGAČAR
From Gruissan to Nîmes, Tadej Pogačar rode his 100th stage in the Tour de France. And he finished the day with his 90th podium ceremony in the race. Since he stormed the Tour in his first participation, in 2020, the Slovenian cannibal has claimed: – 2 overall victories (the 2nd at 22 years, 9 months and 27 days, making him the youngest 2-time winner); – 14 stage wins (the 13th best score); – 35 Maillot Jaune (the 10th highest score ever, tied with André Leducq); – 123 distinctive jerseys (35 Maillot Jaune, 13 polka-dot jerseys, 75 white jerseys); – 1 combativity award.
376-344: CAN PHILIPSEN TURN THE TIDE?
While Jasper Philipsen sprinted to his 3rd stage win, Biniam Girmay hit the deck at a speed of 59.8km/h, with 1.7km to go, and didn’t participate in the final sprint. The difference in the points standings is down to 32 points: 376 for the Eritrean sprinter, 344 for his Belgian rival. The last time we saw a change of leader of the points standings in the later stages of the Tour dates back to 2017, when Michael Matthews won stage 16 to move only 29 points behind Marcel Kittel, who didn’t participate in the sprint on that day. Matthews went on to take the green jersey on stage 17 and keep it until the end of the Tour. Last year, Philipsen took the jersey after stage 4 and never lost it. Girmay has been leading the standings since day 5.
9: PHILIPSEN IS VAN AERT’S EQUAL
With a 9th stage win in the Tour de France, Jasper Philipsen matches Wout van Aert’s record as the active Belgian riders with most victories. 4 more Belgian riders won 9 Tour stages: Tom Steels, Lucien Van Impe, Sylvère Maes and Eloi Meulenberg. And only 5 Belgian riders remain ahead in the history of the Tour: Eddy Merckx (34 wins), Freddy Maertens (15), Philippe Thys (13), Jean Aerts (12) and Walter Godefroot (10). 55: POGAČAR, ALREADY UP TO ROGLIC’S RECORD With 35 Maillot Jaune and 20 Maglia Rosa to go along, Tadej Pogačar has now claimed as many Grand Tour leader’s jerseys as Primoz Roglic (11 in the Tour, 37 in La Vuelta, 7 in the Giro). They have the 13th biggest tally ever in a standing led by Eddy Merckx with 200 Grand Tour leader’s jersey. The next references for Pogačar are Alfredo Binda and Vincenzo Nibali, with 59 jerseys. Pogačar has claimed 34 of his jerseys this year, matching Chris Froome’s record from 2017 (15 in the Tour, 19 in La Vuelta). Only Eddy Merckx remains ahead of him, with 37 jerseys in 1970 (23 in the Tour, 14 in the Giro).
11: ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK MOVE UP THE RANKS
With an 11th stage win (all of them since 2021), Alpecin-Deceuninck match Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and Team TotalEnergies, one step ahead of EF Education-EasyPost and Jayco-AlUla. Next step: Cofidis, with 12 stage wins in the Tour.
4: BAUHAUS CAN’T GET PAST PHILIPSEN
Phil Bauhaus has finished in the top-3 of a Tour stage for the 4th time of his career… And every time, Jasper Philipsen took the win. Bauhaus was 2nd to Philipsen last year in Bayonne (stage 3) and this year in Nîmes (stage 16). And he came 3rd last year in Nogaro (stage 4) and Moulins (stage 11).
