The final week of the Tour starts with a transition stage. Stage 16 runs from Gruissan, a seaside town near the Pyrenees, to Nimes, moving closer to the Alps. This will be the sprinters’ last opportunity to fight for a stage win in this Tour de France.
However, the sprinters and their teams must watch out for two challenges: the “daredevils” aiming for victory through breakaways and the Mistral wind, which often blows from the northwest and can create dangerous echelons.
Stage 16 | 16 July | Gruissan to Nimes | 188.6 km | 1,200 m elevation gain
Starting by the sea in Gruissan, Stage 16 heads northeast. The first 80 kilometers are flat, then the road begins to rise slightly. After the sprint point in Les Matellettes at kilometer 96.1, the route continues with gentle undulations until the only categorized climb of the day.
Riders will face a 1.2-kilometer ascent with an average gradient of five percent to reach the Côte de Fambetou (4th category) at kilometer 112. The road then descends slightly, and the final 40 kilometers are flat, leading to Nimes.
The final three kilometers to the finish are flat, with only roundabouts and traffic islands “interrupting” the approach on wide roads.
Favorites Check: Stage Win and Yellow Jersey
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) still has a theoretical chance to take the Green Jersey from Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty). Philipsen would need to score maximum points on Stage 16 – winning both the intermediate sprint and the stage – while Girmay scores nothing. Even then, Philipsen would still need to collect more points in subsequent intermediate sprints.
Although the Green Jersey seems likely to remain with Girmay, both he and Philipsen are highly motivated to win the stage, and their teams will work hard to ensure a Royal Sprint finish in Nimes.
If the stage ends with a large group sprinting in Nimes, based on recent results, Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) are the main competitors to watch.
However, teams without sprinters – and there are many – will try to place riders in the breakaway. If the breakaway group collaborates effectively, it could be challenging for the teams behind to reel them in. These differing strategies promise an exciting, high-paced start and possibly a fast stage from beginning to end.
Stage 16 Classifications
Sprint Points
- Les Matellettes | Kilometer 96.1
King of the Mountains
- Côte de Fambetou | Category 4 | Kilometer 112.6
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