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Jasper Philipsen wins stage 16 of the 2024 Tour de France.

TdF stage 16 report: Philipsen’s train is on time

The defending green jersey champion is back in the battle as a late crash takes down Biniam Girmay.

Joe Lindsey
by Joe Lindsey 16.07.2024 Photography by
Cor Vos
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Jasper Philipsen capitalized on a perfect lead-out from his Alpecin-Deceuninck team to show a clean set of wheels to everyone as he rocketed to a third stage win at the 2024 Tour de France. Philipsen’s team was well organized into the final two kilometers, and with world champion Mathieu van der Poel leading out of the final corner, Philipsen was able to fire off the wheel cleanly. A brief bump between Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) and Uno-X Mobility’s Alexander Kristoff prevented either challenger from getting a run at Philipsen and he crossed comfortably ahead.

A late crash in the jostle for position a little less than 2 km to go brought down green jersey wearer Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty). The Eritrean triple-stage winner remounted and rode to the line, but the violence of the crash was apparent on his bike, which was missing both brake lever blades. He pedaled slowly to the finish assisted by teammates; post-stage x-rays showed no fractures and he plans to start stage 17. Due to the crash, all riders in the peloton received the same time, and there were no changes to the overall classification.

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How it happened

“Suffering, I guess.”

Mathieu van der Poel when asked what’s left for Alpecin after what may be the Tour’s final sprint stage this year.

Brief analysis

Up next

Dare we hope for a long breakaway to succeed? The 177.8 km ride from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Superdévoluy looks on paper like one of the best chances of the 2024 Tour: a gradual uphill grind that finishes with three climbs that are steep enough to rule out any large bunches coming to the line together, but also unlikely to draw out a major GC battle. Of course [coughs “Le Lioran”], we’ve been wrong before. But if it does go to a break it will be just the fourth stage this Tour so far where that’s happened.

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