As it happened: Last chance for the sprinters on stage 16

Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 16 of the 2024 Tour de France!

Today's stage is the last chance for the sprinters before the final mountain stages and the stage 21 time trial to Nice. We're convinced they won't want to miss out. 

The teams have started to sign on on Gruissan and Cyclingnew's journalists Alasdair Fotherinham and Barry Ryan are there to gather the latest news.  

With more COVID-19 cases in the peloton, riders and the media are wearing masks once again.

Jayco-AlULa hav confirmed that Chris Harper is positive and so won't start today.

There are reports in Spain that Egan Bernal has also tested positive for COVID-19 but  Ineos have told Cyclingnews that this is not true. 

The Colombian will race on, along with teammate Geraint Thomas, who has been suffering with mild COVID-19 in the last few days.

Stage 16 should be the final stage for the sprinters. Their teams will want to control the race but it won’t be that easy, as it’s the day after a rest day, following two brutal days in the Pyrenean mountains.

The sprinters and their teammates had to battle to make the time cut on Sunday. Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) and Arnaud Démare (Arkea-B&B Hotels) made it across the line with less than two minutes to spare. Will those efforts be a factor today? 

Click below to read out full stage 16 preview. 

Tour de France 2024 Stage 16 preview - The sprinters' last dance

Ineos Grenadiers are on the sign-on podium and so is Bernal.  

So is Geraint Thomas.

The cycling World is still trying to understand Tadej Pogačar's dominant performance at the weekend in the Pyrenees and also Jonas Vingegaard's defiant ride just three months after his terrible crash.   

Click below to read Barry Ryan hot take analysis just hours after the race. 

‘Tadej is on another planet’ – Pogačar strides closer to Tour de France victory with striking Plateau de Beille record

Next-up on stage at Visma and Vingegaard. All the riders are wearing masks as they ride on stage.

We're 15 minutes from the stage roll out.  

The riders then face a long 12.5km neutralised sector before the 188.6km stage starts.  

It'll be fascinating to see what happens in the opening kilometres to today. Gruissan is by the sea and the start of the stage is on the exposed roads. 

The wind is a tail cross wind for much of the stage but could become a crosswind in the final kilometres near Nimes.  

Gruissan is hosting the Tour de France for the first time but the Vuelta finished here in 2017, whn it started from Nîmes. 

Yves Lampaert won his first stage of a Grand Tour and pulled on the leader's red jersey.

Nearby Narbonne, where Mark Cavendish win in 2008, has seen multiple winners of stages of the Tour de France win: Sylvain Chavanel in 2008, then André Greipel in 2013.

The riders can feel the breeze blowing at the start and will know it is even stronger out on the exposed country roads. 

Here we go! 

The riders roll out of Gruissan. There will be 12.5km of neutralised calm but then we expect attacks to get in the early break of the day.  

The riders have ice packs down the backs of their jerseys and lots of bidons to help them stay hydrated.

It is another hot day in the saddle with temperatures between 28 and 33°C.

The westerly wind will averaging 20 km/h, with gusts up to 42 km/h.

The helicopter shots show the mediterranean sea as the riders rollong along a coast road near the beaches and holiday resorts.  

The pace is steady behind the race director's car and so some young cyclists are able to ride along. near them, on a bike path.

The flag will drop in 5km. 

Crash! A dog is in the pack! 

Luke Durbridge goes down. Ouch.

He appeared to touch wheels with other riders near the front of the peloton.

Durbridge has a hole in his shorts and some road rash showing. That will hurt him during the stage.

These are the views from the roll out.

2km to the Depart Reel. The riders who want to go in the break are packed close to the rear of the red race director's car. 

They will have to wait for Durbridge to receive medical treatment.  

Mark Cavendish is up front but is not expected to join the break. He and Astana will work to ensure the stage ends in a sprint in Nimes.

Here we go! 

Christian Prudhomme waves the yellow flag and the stage is underway.

There are 150 riders left in the Tour. 

The two non-starters are  Chris Harper (Jayco) and Maxim Van Gils (Lotto).

Both riders were hit by COVID-19.

188km to race

Two riders jump away but nobody follows them. They've decided to ease up, so it's a slow, steady start to the stage.   

The two are Stefan Küng (Groupama) and Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies) but they're not keen to push on.

The attack was short lived and now the peloton is all together. Gruppo compatto.

180km to go

The riders are into the vineyards now but still no attacks. 

But here we go! 

A slight change of direction sparks attacks as the rider go through the village of  Fleury. 

The wins is blowing but it will depend on if the riders want to race had so early in the stage.

We can see Alpecin and Lotto riders doing control work on the front.

The brief attack was soon pulled back. 

Mark Cavendish spoke before the start of the stage to different television channels in the mixed zone. He tried to down play the expectations that today could be his last ever chance to contest a Tour de France sprint. 

"With every last comes a first, doesn't it? Yes, it's the last time I perhaps do a sprint at Tour de France. We don't know if it's going be sprint but obviously if it is, it's another opportunity and we try for that, we try and win," Cavendish told ITV in the UK and other media. 

"In the future, whether I ride a bike or not, I’ll try and win more. Whatever you do in life, just try and succeed and it's never the last of anything, is it?"  

Cavendish was proud of the way his teammates helped him fight to survive in the Pyrenees. This chance of a sprint is their and Cavendish's reward.

"Absolutely, It's always been like in the Tour, when you fight through those mountains to get something, there has to be something good from the other side of it" he said. 

"I always fight in the Tour, because I respect the race so much. It’s the Tour de France. I've always said, with the suffering and the down moments, if you get something that is there to get you through, it always helps.

I think whatever happens today, Sunday was more work and was more impressive than any lead out man in the history of cycling could ever have done. I'm super proud of those boys, super grateful for them to them. They're machines." 

Mark Cavendish gave an exclusive interview to Cyclingnews during the second week of the Tour de France. Barry Ryan produced a special feature interview. 

Click below to become a Cyclingnews member and read the special Cavendish interview.

‘I won’t ever regret stopping now, that’s for sure’ – Mark Cavendish’s last Tour de France wasn’t really about the record

170km to go

The pace remains steady but there's a sense it could change soon. 

The riders are near Béziers but the idea of not attacking appears to have taken hold of the peloton. It's hot out there, above 30C and so riders are not keen to go deep. 

Béziers has hosted the Tour de France six times between 1938 and 2006. 

The last winner of a stage in the city was David Millar, who in 2002 controlled a strong breakaway including Michael Boogerd and Laurent Brochard to win the sprint. 

It was Millar's second of four stage victories. He also won the prologue of the 2000 Tour in Paris.

The peloton rolls on all together at 38km/h. It could be a long day.

150km to go

The riders can sense the cross winds  and so Visma has moved near the front to protect Vingegaard. However the pace is steady with several sprint teams placing a rider on the front to share the pacing. 

The riders have covered the first hour at a steady but relaxed 37.9km/h. 

This is the peloton in the sun of the south of France.

Tadej Pogačar sat up front in the peloton

Tadej Pogačar is in yellow, yellow everything.

Jonas Vingegaard is again riding in the KOM polka-dot jersey today.

The riders can see the wind blowing flags and can no doubt feel the wind blowing from their left.  

Some teams are concerned about the wind and moving to the front. However Visma appear to have a split strategy. 

Vingegaard is up front with several teammates but Wout Van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson are near the back, perhaps enjoying a relaxed early part of the stage.

The stage maybe a snoozer so far but we've been busying sourcing the best news from the Tour de France. 

Visma sporting director Merijn Zeeman, who leave the team on October 1, to work in football, talked at length about his team leader to Flemish newspaper HLN. 

Click below to read our story. 

'Never seen an athlete who improves so quickly' – Visma praise Vingegaard's shape at Tour de France despite gap to Pogačar

Biniam Girmay has already won three stages and could win again today. He is also thinking about gold, as well as green, with an eye on the Paris Olympic road race.

'The Games are the next big step' – Biniam Girmay eyes Olympics after Tour de France success

A stream of riders are dropping back to their team cars to collect bidons and ice for their leaders and teammates.

130km to go

Tadej Pogacar is returning to the peloton but is not concerned about a risk of side winds. 

Silvain Dilier is riding long turns on the front to keep the pace steady. He is followed by two Jayco rider and then Visma riders and Vingegaard.  

120km to go

The riders are passing through the sun-kissed vineyards.

Some have already taken their musette but the official feed zone is coming up.

Silvan Dilier is still riding on the front, setting tempo at the front of the peloton.

However UAE are also up front now, the tension seems to be rising now. Other teams too.

Watch out for a sudden exposed sector and so an chance for an attack or split.

The riders enter a rubbish zone and then the feed zone, so lots of riders empty their peockets. It's not good to see and we can only hope that the race organisers really clean up all the rubbish thrown away by the riders. 

100km to go

The riders have taken on food, drinks and ice packs but the pace remains steady.

The peloton covered 82.8 km in the two hours of racing. That's a steady pace. 

The intermediate sprint is coming up in 7km. We can expect a sprint for the points there.

Following the weekend's Pyrenean tests, Biniam Girmay now holds a 96-point green jersey lead heading into stage 16 with 363 points to last year's green jersey winner Jasper Philipsen's 277.

The riders are climbing now, into a head/cross wind too. But the intermediate sprint comes after a descent.

The fight for the points could be an indication on what to expect at the stage finish.

We're expecting a Girmay-Philipsen sprint now and at the finish. 

And as expected, Intermarche accelerate to lead out the sprint.

Girmay has three riders ahead of him and two behind him, protecting his wheel.

The GC teams are also up front to stay safe.

Intermarche have taken the right of the road.

1km to the sprint. 

Mathieu van der Poel is there for Philipsen. This is fast.

Girmay is blocked behind along the edge of the road. 

Alpecin lead it out for Philipsen but Bryan Coquard came through to win it. He scored 20 points.

While most of the sprinters fought for the intermediate sprint, Mark Cavendish was at the back of the peloton, taking a bidon. 

Was that mind games for his rivals or himself? We'll find out in a couple of hours.   

Philipsen was second at the intermediate sprint and scored 17 points, with Girmay 4th scoring 13 points. 

Girmay still leads by 92 points if our maths is correct.  

Girmay  spoke to television about the stage before the start.

80km to go

Soone after the intermediate sprint, Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) took off alone. 

The peloton let im go and so his lead is up to 2:00. Allez les gars!

Thomas Gachignard is the first over the Côte de Fambetou climb, the only categorised climb of the stage.

65km to go

Jayco are leading the chase of Thomas Gachignard, with Alpecin also packed up front. 

There is a sense the cross winds could soon be a factor.

The speed is up now, as Alpecin chase Thomas Gachignard with determination.  

We're near the point where the road twists and turns and that's making the riders nervous.

Speed is everything and so aerodynamics is everything. 

Aero specialist CyclingSpy cast their eye over the Tour de France peloton for Cyclingnews and wrote this fascinating feature.

Tour de France spotted: The aero details most of us will miss

50km to go

Mathieu van der Poel will play a vital role in Jasper Philipsen's sprint leadout today.  

He has revealed he is near his peak form as the Paris Olympics near. 

Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert nearing top shape at Tour de France for Paris Olympics

The peloton is lined out and at speed.  

44km to go

Several teams are taking on extra bidons and ice, including UAE and Jayco.

Soudal move Remco Evenepoel up to the front.  

In less than five kilometres, the race route will turns right. Everyone will race to that point. 

After the turn, the riders will enjoy a tailwind for ten kilometres or so.

Thomas Gachignard leads by 1:40 at the turn. He can enjoy a tailwind now. 

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30km to go

There are sone big speed bumps along the stage today. They're an extra obstacle today.

The gap is down to just 40 seconds as UAE and Soudal drive the peloton along.

Visma are also up front, riding in the middle of the road.

The peloton are reeling in Thomas Gachignard. 

Johannes Kulset of Uno-X suffered a mechanical problem and messes up a roundabout. That was a scary moment as he and a Uno-X team car went the wrong way and almost hit another Uno-X car.

25km to go

Thomas Gachignard has been caught.  It's time for a super fast sprint finish.

The riders have just turned sharp left and so now face a cross wind from the left. 

Every team knows that position is now vital.

The sprint teams are in formation, lined out in different positions. 

Visma and Movistar on the left. DSM on their right. 

For now Astana are waiting in the pack and not together.  

20km to go

A huge roundabout splits the peloton. There will be several more of those in the final kilometres.

Israel have told their riders that their recon vehicle has said there is no strong wind in the final of the stage.   

Indee, there are eight roundabouts in the final 8km, with four in the final 3km. 

Taking the right line and staying united as a team out team will be vital.

Mark Cavendish moves up to the front via the middle of the pack and on a teammate's wheel.

Cavendish could take is 36th win today, in what is probably his last ever Tour sprint. 

Visma are riding to protect Jonas Vingegaard, with two riders ahead of him and others behind him. 

We can also expected Wout Van Aert to go for the sprint today.   

15km to go

The speed is high as the kilometres count down. 

10km to go

Tadej Pogacar is not taking any risks in the sprint today. He is near the back of the peloton.

Decathlon move Sam Bennet to the front. 

Uno-X are taking Kristoff up too. 

Astana are on the left as DSM come up from the right. 

A roundabout splits the peloton again. 

The times will be taken at 3km today. That's the point the GC guys need to focus on.

Luke Durbridge powers along on the front, riding tempo for Dylan Groenwegen.  

3km to go

The islands and roundabouts in the final 3km start now!

Arkea move up for Demare.

A roundabout turn lines out the peloton.

Who will take control? It looks like Uno-X for Kristoff.

2km to go

It's a huge battle for position.

Boom! Here come Alpecin for Philipsen.

Grimay crash! 

Girmay is on the ground, He will not spoint today or score points. 

1km to go

Here we go!

Alpecin lead it out. 

Jasper Philipsen wins it! 

Tadej Pogacar finished in a chase group but will surely get the same time because he was slowed by the crash.

Philipsen beat Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain), Alex Kristoff (Uno-X) and Sam Bennett (Decathlon).

Girmay gets a push and pedals to the finish. 

He looks at hid left hand and appears to have crashed on his right side.  

Philipsen and van der Poel hug, with the Belgian thanking his teammate for a perfect lead out in the final 500 metres. 

Thanks to winning his third sprint and scoring 100 points, with Girmay not scoring  any points, Jasper Philipsen has closed the gap in the green jersey competition.

Girmay has 376 points, while Philipsen now has 344. That's just a 32 point deficit, with points at several intermediate sprints to fight for between now and Sunday.  

This is the first shot of Jasper Philipsen as he celebrates his third victory in this Tour.

Tadej Pogacar ket his yellow jersey and his 3:09 lead on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma). 

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal) is third at 5:19, with Joao Almeida (UAE) fourth at a massive 10:54. 

Pogacar also leads the the KOM mountains competition and UAE the team classification, while Evenepoel is the best young rider. 

This is the moment Philipsen prepares to celebrate.

These are the stage results from our friends at FirstCycling.

Philispen was happy to take his third stage win. He suffered in the first week but then won on stage 10, 13 and now stage 16.

“It was a such a team effort. It's always nice when you can win together. I think that's what we did definitely today," he said.

"I was feeling good. I had a good rest day, and was feeling that my shape improved during this Tour de France. So I was confident, if we could line it up good today, we could go for the win.

"Every season is really hard to get right, definitely in this level, so to take three is a really good job and we can be proud."

Philipsen was ahead of the Girmay crash and is now close in the points competition but was sporting in victory.   

“I haven't seen anything. We were all always together with our team, and we're trying to position ourselves and focusing on our own lead out. I didn't see any crash. I hope everybody is okay,” he said. 

The fight for green is now back on but will be decided in the intermediate sprints early in the hilly stages.

Everything is possible, but it's really hard,” Philipsen admitted. 

“He's climbing really well. I just hope he's okay after the crash, because he doesn't deserve to lose like this. But I just try whatever we can, because the hard stages are yet to come. So, where we go day by day, but we also enjoy mostly this win.”

This is our breaking story on Girmay's crash. 

Tour de France green jersey Biniam Girmay crashes in hectic stage 16 finale

This is how Philipsen won it. 

This is how Philipsen and van der Poel celebrated win number 3.  

Mark Cavendish finished 17th in the sprint. Astana were together in the final kilometres but then split in the roundabouts. 

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) celebrated his 100th day of Tour de France racing by securing the Yellow Jersey for the 35th time in his career. 

To read our full stage report and see our rowing photo gallery of the stage, click below.

Tour de France: Jasper Philipsen nets third win on frantic stage 16 sprint in Nîmes

Alasdair Fotheringham and Barry Ryan are on the ground in Nimes and will soon have all the biggest news from the finish, including reaction from Mark Cavendish in what was almost certainyl his last ever Tour de France sprint.

Thanks for joining us for our full live coverage of stage 16 of the Tour de France. 

The crosswinds did not split the race as was expected but the stage ended with a thrilling sprint finish, win number 3 for Philipsen, a crash for Girmay and an emotional finla spint for Cavendish.  

Wednesday's 17th stage is over 177.8km from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Superdévoluy in the Alps. 

It could be a day for a breakaway but the basttle for the intermediate sprint and thw green jersey points will now be fierce, with Philipsen fighting with Girmay and their teams also playing a major role in controlling the attacks and the sprint.

If a breakaway gets away, the final climbs and descent will decide the winner. 

Join us for full live coverage of all the action.

Tour de France points classification leader Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) crashed in a roundabout in the final kilometre of stage 16 in what was one of the last opportunities for the sprinters in this year's race.

Tour de France green jersey Biniam Girmay crashes in hectic stage 16 finale

Tour de France leader Tadej Pogačar has brushed off a query into the use of carbon monoxide rebreathers, a device reportedly employed by some WorldTour teams as a measurement tool for altitude training.

'I don't know what it is' – Tour de France leader Tadej Pogačar brushes aside question on carbon monoxide rebreather use

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe has said no decision has been made regarding whether Primož Roglič will race at the Vuelta a Espana until after the Tour de France.

Read the full story here.

It wasn’t the Champs-Élysées, but it was a fitting kind of a place to sign off all the same. Mark Cavendish had passed this road before as a callow young man and won, beating Robbie McEwen to the line to win his fourth stage of the 2008 Tour de France. Now, sixteen years and 31 victories later, he returned to Nîmes’ Boulevard Allende on Tuesday for what was almost certainly his final sprint as a Tour rider.

Read the full story from Cyclingnews' Barry Ryan.