Tour de France LIVE: Jonas Vingegaard blows away Tadej Pogacar to win stage 16 time trial
The yellow jersey holder extended his lead to 1’ 48” in the GC standings
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Your support makes all the difference.Jonas Vingegaard took a huge leap towards clinching a second Tour de France triumph in as many years with a barnstorming performance in the individual time trial on Stage 16. The 22km route from Passy to Combloux proved no trouble for the yellow jersey holder who flew out of the blocks and never let up.
Earlier in the day, France’s Remi Cavagna set the pace and led the way for most of the afternoon before being pipped by Jumbo-Visma’s Wout van Aert.
When the two general classification rivals, Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, heading out for their runs it was clear they were miles ahead of the rest of the field. Pogacar decided to switch from a time trial bike to a road one with 56km and a steep climb to go which cost him vital seconds.
It made no difference in the end though due to Vingegaard’s display. He finished 1’ 38” ahead of Pogacar and is now almost two minutes ahead in the GC standings with five days of the Tour left to go.
Relive all the latest from today’s stage 16 below:
Tour de France stage 16
Mads Pedersen is really going after this 22km course. He’s over a minute quicker than Dries Devenyns at the second time check. The Dane looks to be targeting a stage win here.
Tour de France stage 16
Bahrain Victorious’ Nikias Arndt takes the lead! The German finishes the course is superb fashion and crosses the line over 17 seconds ahead of Dries Devenyns.
The latest time to beat is 37 minutes 19 seconds. Arndt also set that time after climbing on the time trial bike.
Tour de France stage 16
The green jersey holder, Jasper Philipsen, heads down the ramp for his run.
He’s already got four stage wins on this tour and is miles ahead in the green jersey race. The Belgian’s only goal today will be to get around the course in the time limit.
Tour de France stage 16
Eurosport pundit Sean Kelly believes all the talk about switching bikes is all mind games and “it won’t make any difference” to the general classification contenders.
The excitement for today’s stage will come towards the end of the day as Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard head out.
Tour de France stage 16
Belgium’s Dries Devenyns has just pipped Gianni Moscon’s time by two seconds. He gets home in 37 minutes and 37 seconds. The Soudal–Quick-Step rider leads in the clubhouse.
Mikkel Bjerg finishes off his own ride but crosses the line in fifth place with a time of 39’ 12”. His bike change worked okay on the final climb but Bjerg never pushed hard throughout the first sections of the course so his time might not be the best reflection of that particular gameplan.
Tour de France stage 16
The French national time trial champion, Rémi Cavagna, wants to impress here.
This time trial is his best chance of winning a stage on this year’s Tour and as the national champion there’s a but of expectation for him to at least challenge for the win.
He sets off for his run.
Tour de France stage 16
Astana’s Gianni Moscon is the new time trial leader with a decent time of 37 minutes and 39 seconds. That is the new benchmark for those on the course.
The next question that needs answering is whether Soren Waerenskold and Mikkel Bjerg can beat that time having changed bikes.
Tour de France stage 16
Soren Waerenskold’s change of bike may be paying off already. The Norwegian has caught up to Alexis Renard and Dylan Groenewegen.
We’ll have to wait to see his time before judging whether it was worth it.
Mikkel Berg has also switched up his bike with around 6km to go.
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