After two lung-busting stages in the Pyranees mountains suited for climbers, Stage 16 of the 2024 Tour de France will be the domain of the sprinters, and a tight bunch finish is expected on the 188.6 kilometer stage with only 1,200 meters of overall elevation gain.
Gruissan is a picturesque commune located in the Aude department in southern France, hugging the Mediterranean coast. The commune is particularly well-known for its unique circular layout and rich history. The village is built in a circular shape around the former castle, which is referred to as a "circulade." This design, dating back to around 1000 AD, and served defensive purposes from possible incoming attacks on the village. The Tour Barberousse, or Barbarossa Tower, is an iconic tower in Gruissan and is the only remaining part of the 13th-century castle, built between 1245-1247 by Archbishop Guillaume de Broa to defend the French kingdom's borders.
Nîmes is the prefecture of the Gard department in the Occitanie region of Southern France, situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Cévennes mountains. The city of approximately 150,000 residents is often called the "French Rome," from its significant Roman past. During the Roman Empire, it was a regional capital with a population of almost 60,000 resident. Today the city is home to several well-preserved Roman structures, including the Arena of Nîmes, a vast amphitheater built in the 1st century CE which is capable of seating 24,000 spectators and the Maison Carrée, a remarkably well-preserved Roman temple.
Nîmes, the finishing location of Stage 16, has hosted the Tour de France three times in the past decade. Previous stage winners in Nîmes include Alexander Kristoff in 2014 and Caleb Ewan in 2019 on sprint finishes, and Nils Politt in 2021 from a breakaway.
The route heads more inland compared to previous races between these locations, but still favors sprinters due to its relatively flat profile. The most challenging climb of the day, the Côte de Fambetou, a brief, 1.2 kilometer climb at an average gradient of 5% gradient, is located around the midpoint of the stage. Time bonuses will be awarded to the first three riders crossing the finish line, with 10, 6, and 4 seconds respectively.
This stage is expected to be a prime opportunity for sprinters to showcase their skills, given the flat terrain and the historical precedent of sprint finishes in Nîmes. However, as always in the Tour de France, the potential for unexpected developments, such as breakaways or crosswinds, could add excitement to the race. This stage is likely to be warmer and more humid compared to previous stage, so although a bunch sprint finish is more likely and team tactics will play to this, nutrition and proper support in the lead-outs will be particularly important if teams want to support their riders for the finish.
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché–Wanty), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Pascal Ackermann (Isreal-Premier Tech), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) will all be riders to keep an eye on going into Stage 16 of the 2024 Tour de France.
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