Tour de France 2024: Only Philipsen faster - Bauhaus sprints to second place
Thomas Huber
· 16.07.2024
What is likely to be the last bunch sprint of the Tour de France 2024 also ends with another top result for a German rider, but there is no stage win: Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) clearly outsprinted Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) at the finish in Nimes, who finished a strong second. Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech), who had previously finished on the podium three times in bunch sprints, sprinted to sixth place. The wearer of the points jersey Biniam Girmay, on the other hand, was the unlucky rider of the day: he crashed in a roundabout one and a half kilometres before the finish and was unable to intervene in the decision. As a result, the lead of the man from Eritrea over Philipsen dwindled to just 32 points in the points classification.
Perfect sprint from Alpecin-Deceuninck
Team Alpecin-Deceuninck took an offensive approach to what was probably the last bunch sprint of the 2024 Tour of France. The Belgian team dictated the pace from the front before Philipsen rider Mathieu van der Poel pulled away. He set an extremely fast pace and provided a perfect lead-out for sprinter Jasper Philipsen. When he then launched his attack, even Phil Bauhaus, who was on the back wheel of the day's winner, was unable to follow. Philipsen came through with a clear lead ahead of Bauhaus. The German's sprint was also impressive, however, as he finished in second place ahead of top sprinters such as Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike).
It was a team effort today. We won together as a team. I felt better every day at the Tour de France and had a lot of self-confidence today. I was able to capitalise on that. - Jasper Philipsen in the winner interview
Tour de France 2024: Results - the top 10 of the 16th stage
- Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4:11:27
- Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:00
- Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) +0:00
- Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +0:00
- Wout van Aert (Vimsa | Lease a Bike) +0:00
- Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) +0:00
- Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) +0:00
- Sören Waerenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) +0:00
- Ryan Gibbons (Lidl-Trek) +0:00
- Danny van Poppel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:00
Tour de France 2024: The current standings in the overall standings
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 66:07:51
- Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) +3:09
- Remco Evenepoel (Soudal - Quick Step) +5:19
- Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +10:54
- Mikel Landa (Soudal - Quick Step) +11:21
- Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) +11:27
- Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) +13:38
- Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +15:48
- Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) +16:12
- Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) +16:32
This is how the 16th stage of the Tour de France 2024 went
Shortly after the start in the coastal town of Gruissan, Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) tried to form a powerful lead group with his attack. As only Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies) jumped on the Swiss rider's rear wheel, they slowed down again and dropped back into the peloton. The chances of success for a two-rider breakaway group seemed too slim. A few kilometres later, it was once again the Groupama-FDJ team, this time with Kevin Geniets, that stepped up the pace. Some riders went with the Luxembourger, but a gap never materialised. Alpecin-Deceuninck took command of the peloton and prevented a breakaway.
Without a leading group, the race situation then calmed down. The peloton rolled towards Nimes at a moderate pace. Silvan Dillier from Alpecin-Deceuninck in particular set the pace in the peloton. The race situation was stable.
Coquard wins intermediate sprint
Momentum then returned to the race 96 kilometres from the finish when the intermediate sprint was up for grabs. Intermarche-Wanty increased the pace for Biniam Girmay, but Cofidis sprinter Bryan Coquard was the first rider over the line and secured the full 20 points.
Gachignard sets himself apart
Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) then launched an attack and opened up a gap between himself and the peloton. The soloist was given a maximum lead of around two and a half minutes - so he had no realistic chance of winning. At the end of the race, however, he was recognised as the most combative rider. He also took the only mountain point of the day.
Signs of a mass sprint
As the peloton came closer to the finish line, the pace increased - also because the Jayco-AlUla team integrated itself into the chase. With 35 kilometres to go, Gachignard still had a lead of over a minute and a half, but ten kilometres later the breakaway was caught. A short time later, the sprinter teams formed up and the battles for position began.
Girmay falls
1.5 kilometres before the finish, the peloton rode into a roundabout at high speed, causing several riders to fall. Biniam Girmay was one of those who fell. Although the wearer of the points jersey was able to finish the race, he was no longer able to intervene in the decision. Although he lost his lead in the points classification to second-placed Philipsen, he still has 32 points more than the Belgian.
Philipsen wins
In the finale, the Alpecin-Deceuninck team then pulled off a commanding sprint: No rider was able to keep up with Philipsen in the end, who clearly secured the stage win ahead of Phil Bauhaus and Alexander Kristoff. Pascal Ackermann finished sixth. This is Philipsen's third stage win at the Tour de France 2024.
