LIVE. Tour de France, 16th stage between Gruissan and Nîmes: the peloton in pursuit of Gachignard

Thomas Gachignard was caught by a peloton that was moving at high speed.

Johannes Kulset (Uno-X Mobility) had to be towed after a crash. While following his team car back into the peloton, the rider then took the wrong route.

In a few kilometers, the peloton almost took back a minute from Thomas Gachignard whose lead melted away (44′).

The Frenchman managed to keep the gap with the peloton at around one minute and 40 seconds.

The Soudal Quick-Step car stopped to help its rider Ilan Van Wilder who had a mechanical problem.

After letting Gachignard go, the peloton reduced the 23-year-old rider’s lead. The gap fell back below the 2-minute mark.

The only rider to have broken away since the start of the day, Gachignard has taken an option for the title of most combative rider of the day.

Gachignard is no longer gaining time on the peloton. The gap has stabilized between 2′ 20” and 2′ 30”.

Having set off alone in a breakaway, Thomas Gachignard came close to being crowned French champion a little less than a month ago. He finished in 3rd place behind Julien Bernard and Paul Lapeira who won the three-man sprint.

The TotalEnergies rider takes the only point in the mountain classification awarded during this 16th stage.

Gachignard continues to increase his lead at the front of the race. He now has a 2′ 07” lead over the rest of the riders.

Having set off solo, Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) managed to widen the gap with the peloton and has a lead of more than a minute.

After the intermediate sprint, Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) broke away from the peloton. For the moment, he is alone.

The Frenchman from Cofidis beat Jasper Philipsen and Anthony Turgis in the only intermediate sprint of the stage. He consolidated his 3rd place in the Green Jersey classification of Biniam Girmay.

For 7 kilometers, the peloton will leave the flat for a steeper road not listed in the mountain classification.

• Yellow Jersey: Tadej Pogacar
• White Jersey with Red Polka Dots: Tadej Pogacar
• Green Jersey: Biniam Girmay
• White Jersey: Remco Evenepoel
• Best Team: UAE Team Emirates

Under the impetus of Alpecin-Deceuninck and Jayco Alula, the pace has accelerated over the last few kilometres.

Nils Politt won the final stage of the Tour de France arriving in Nîmes in 2021. The German from UAE Team Emirates won solo at the end of a course designed for sprinters.

During the previous stage, Sunday, Tadej Poacar struck a major blow at the Plateau de Beille. In addition to his stage victory, the Slovenian increased his lead in the general classification over his pursuers. Jonas Vingegaard, second, is 3′ 09 behind.

The Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter changed bikes at the back of the peloton. He is among the favourites for victory in Nîmes.

The Yellow Jersey is competing in its 100th stage on the roads of the Tour de France, the 34th with the leader’s jersey on its shoulders.

The runners covered the first 50 kilometers at a moderate pace (39.5 km/h).

Partner of the Green Jersey Biniam Girmay, Mike Teunissen (Intermarché-Wanty) was elected best teammate of the 2nd week.

After 30 kilometers of racing, no rider has managed to break away.

Having left Gard, the peloton has already arrived in Hérault. It will finish in Gard with the arrival in Nîmes.

The riders, all grouped together in the peloton, entered the streets of Béziers.

After reaching 200,000 followers on Instagram, Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) dyed his moustache blue.

Several riders have tried to break away from the pack. So far, without success.

Runners should be accompanied by sunshine throughout the day. The thermometer shows 30 degrees.

From the first meters of the race, Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) attempted the first attack of the day.

The real start has been given!

In the middle of the stage, the Côte de Fambetou, classified 4th category, is the only sprint for the mountain classification. Only the rider who passes in front will score a point, not enough to worry the leader of the classification Tadej Pogacar.

Already the winner of three stages since the start of the Tour, Biniam Girmay is the favourite to raise his arms in Nîmes. The new star of the peloton would thus consolidate his Green Jersey.

The race direction has given the fictitious start of this stage. For 12 kilometers, the riders will parade before the real start.

Since the start of the Tour, the peloton has been riding at a very sustained pace. Enough to create doubt among some followers like the former sprinter Nacer Bouhanni who does not “understand how it is possible”.

On paper, the stage has a good chance of finishing in a sprint, but the strong mistral could push some teams to try to break up the peloton.

Maxim Van Gils and Chris Harper have withdrawn from the Tour de France after testing positive for Covid.

Hello everyone! Welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to the 16th stage of the Tour de France between Gruissan and Nîmes.