Sondre Enger, another Norwegian, crossed third. John Degenkolb (Germany / Giant); 5.
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Team Sky’s Froome was in the leading pack as they crossed the line to ensure he keeps yellow heading into Tuesday’s rest day.
Peter Sagan won a thrilling bunch sprint by less than a tyre’s width at the end of a long and draining stage 16 in Berne in which Chris Froome maintained his advantage over his rivals for the yellow jersey.
The duo has a 1-minute lead 25 kilometers (16 miles) into the rolling 209-kilometer (130-mile) stage from Moirans-en-Montagne to the Swiss capital of Bern.
A pretty nondescipt stage ended with a fantasic finale, which Sagan prevailed in after he passed Katusha’s Alexander Kristoff on the line.
The Tour de France is the biggest cycling race in the world.
“It was a very hot stage, I’m thankful to the team and a lot of times I lose the race but now I won and I think destiny is turning back now”, Sagan said. I’m motivated and I think the team’s been great.
Cancellara expressed his disappointment at failing to win his home stage.
The finale, in the urban center of Berne, is nearly “classic-esque”: two climbs in the final three kilometres, the first, 250 metres at seven per cent, followed quickly by 600 metres at 6.5 per cent, then a one-kilometre flat drag to the finish line.
Etixx-Quickstep teammates Julian Alaphilippe and Tony Martin, a three-time time trial world champion, got in an early breakaway and established a lead of more than five minutes on the peloton before being reeled in with slightly more than 20 kilometres to go. I think everyone is quite glad there’s a rest day tomorrow – it was a tough day out there!
Alaphilippe ran out of steam 25km from the end and Martin was caught by the peloton soon afterwards, allowing Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) to hit the front on his own.
I’m looking forward to the Alps.
Team Dimension Data had hoped to make an impression to repeat Steve Cummings’ emotional Nelson Mandela Day victory of a year ago, but Edvald Boasson Hagen could not find space in the final sprint and came home ninth.
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Sagan failed to pick up any points on Sunday, but the green jersey holder showed his sprinting prowess yet again, with Mark Cavendish unable to claim a fifth stage win after a final cobbled climb took its toll on the Manxman.
