Peter Sagan won the sprint to the finish line in Bern, Switzerland, by a minuscule margin over Alexander Kristoff. His win on Stage 16 was his third of the 2016 Tour de France, and solidifies his fifth career green jersey in the competition. Kristoff began to celebrate as he crossed the line, but he was juuuuust short.
Tour de France standings 2016: Peter Sagan wins photo finish in Bern
Peter Sagan won a photo finish in Bern, edging Alexander Kristoff, who crossed the line believing he had won.
Photo finish. Looks like @petosagan gets it. #bikethrow #TDF2016 pic.twitter.com/ao5FZ5Pz0p
— Daniel McMahon (@cyclingreporter) July 18, 2016
The day started with a dream too beautiful to last. Tony Martin and Julian Alaphilippe committed to a brave breakaway early on Stage 16. Martin, a world champion time trialist, and Alaphilippe, a 24-year-old French revelation, formed a strong duo on the last Classics-esque stage of the Tour. The Etixx-Quick Step teammates held a lead of more than six minutes before the midway point of the 206-kilometer stage to Bern.
Alas, the peloton took its toll, whittling away the gap. With under 25 kilometers to go, Alaphilippe sat up and was subsumed. Martin, the yellow jersey bearer on two stages last year before a crash forced him to abandon, held out, but he too was overtaken after he made sure to take the only categorized climb of the day. At least they enjoyed themselves:
alaphilippe qui montre tony martin "bordel c'est une machine le mec" pic.twitter.com/nSrJM8CaR1
— philippe (@philousports) July 18, 2016
Inside 20 kilometers, Rui Costa made a solo effort, getting almost 20 seconds on the peloton before being hauled in just after the 5K banner. After a technical cobbles stretch (perhaps a not-so-subtle nod to Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara), a big bunch formed up to the line, and Sagan took Kristoff’s wheel then shot around the Norwegian rider.
Tour de France Stage 16 top 10
1. Peter Sagan - 4h 26’02”
2. Alexander Kristoff
3. Sondre Holst Enger
4. John Degenkolb
5. Michael Matthews
6. Fabian Cancellara
7. Sep Vanmarcke
8. Maximiliano Richeze
9. Edvald Boasson Hagen
10. Greg Van Avermaet
Tour de France general classification top 10 after Stage 16
1. Chris Froome
2. Bauke Mollema + 1’47”
3. Adam Yates + 2’45”
4. Nairo Quintana + 2’59”
5. Alejandro Valverde + 3’17”
6. Romain Bardet + 4’04”
7. Richie Porte + 4’27”
8. Tejay Van Garderen + 4’47”
9. Dan Martin + 5’03”
10. Fabio Aru + 5’16”
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