Sagan Wins Tour De France Stage Sixteen

Last updated : 18 July 2016 By CNS Sport

Tinkoff's Peter Sagan rode to a photo finish victory on stage sixteen of the Tour De France.

This was a stage which took the 103rd edition of the race into Switzerland with a finish at Berne, which was hosting the race for the first time, after a flat 209km stage from Moirans-en-Montagne.

The Tour de France has paid tribute to the victims of Nice attack with a minute of silence at the start and on the finish line before the 183 riders got on their way.
 
 
 Julian Alaphilippe and Tony Martin were the first to slip clear of the peloton and were 18 seconds ahead after 20.5kms of racing, rising to 1.05 five kilometres later.
 
There were attacks from the peloton and the gap came down to forty seconds after 33kms with Pierre-Luc Périchon of Fortuneo Vita Concept trying to bridge the gap with the two leaders who contunued to extend their lead, letting them get 2.20 ahead of the chasers and 5.45 ahead of the yellow jersey group.
 
Over the border into Switzerland and Alaphilippe took the sprint.before Martin went away with 25kms to go and took the points on the day's KOM before being caught with 21.4kms to go.
 
Rui Costa of Lampre broke away 1.4kms later and despite the pace of the peloton ramping up and he was still away with 12kms to go and a lead of 13 seconds.
 
Into the home city of Fabian Cancellera and Costa was caught with less than five kilometres to go.
 
Onto the cobbles with 2.8kms and the sprint teams were on the front as they took a hair pin.
 
Sep Vanmarcke of LottoNL-Jumbo went off the front but he was brought back by the Trek led peloton.
 
Under the flam rouge and there was a big group including Chris Froome going for the sprint. Kristoff took on Sagan and it was a photo finish as they crossed the line in 4.26.02.
 
The picture told the story and it was Peter Sagan who took the win ahead of Kristoff and Enger, followed by Degenkolb and Michael Matthews and said "it was very hot but I am so happy for my team. I believe in destiny and now it is turnng back. It is lovely that the Slovakian fans are here to see."
 
Chris Froome finished in 13th place and keeps his lead in the race going into stage seventeen on Wednesday.