Tour de France 2019 Route stage 16: Nîmes

Tour de France 2019 Route stage 16: Nîmes – Nîmes

Tuesday 23 July - The 16th stage of the Tour de France is played out after the second rest day. The flat race of 177 kilometres is an out-and-back leg in Nîmes.

The iconic viaduct Pont du Gard features in the finale. Chances are that the breakaway will be swallowed up by then, since the route is tailor-made for sprinters. It is far from flat, but the rolling landscape should not worry fast men.

Five years ago it was a close call in Nîmes. Jack Bauer and Martin Elmiger attacked at kilometre 5 and rode 220 kilometres ahead of the peloton. It was a no chance breakaway, yet Bauer came incredibly close as he was overhauled in the last 25 metres. Alexander Kristoff won the bunch sprint to succeed Mark Cavendish, who was the fastest finisher in Nîmes in 2008.

Nîmes is famous for the Roman monuments, such as the Arena of Nîmes and Maison Carrée, possibly the best preserved Roman temple in the world.

The Big Start of the 2017 Vuelta a España was in Nîmes. The TTT moved through the Arena and BMC took the win ahead of Quick-Step Floors and Team Sunweb.

Another interesting read: results/race report 16th stage 2019 Tour de France.