The 16th stage of the 2024 Tour de France promises to be an exciting one for the sprinters as they gear up for their final chance before the mountain stages. The stage started in Gruissan, with riders facing a steady pace and hot temperatures as they made their way through the vineyards and coastal roads.
Tadej Pogacar celebrated his 100th day of Tour de France racing by securing the Yellow Jersey for the 35th time in his career. Mark Cavendish finished 17th in the sprint, with teams like Alpecin and Lotto working to control the race for a potential sprint finish in Nîmes.
Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin celebrated his third stage win, closing the gap in the green jersey competition against Biniam Girmay. Girmay, who suffered a crash, remains in the lead but Philipsen is determined to challenge him in the upcoming stages.
The stage saw some early attacks and crashes, with Luke Durbridge going down and a dog causing a brief disruption in the peloton. Despite these incidents, the riders pushed on, with the sprinters eyeing their chance for victory.
As the peloton rolled through the coastal roads, the wind played a factor, adding an element of challenge to the stage. With the sprinters and their teams focused on controlling the race, the stage promised to be a thrilling battle for the stage win.
Stay tuned for more updates and action from stage 16 of the Tour de France as the riders continue their journey towards the finish line in Paris.