Thomas Gachignard's lead has started to come down, dropping from two minutes 20 seconds to one minute 40 seconds. The peloton are toying with the young Frenchman.

Mark Cavendish won in Nimes on his first ever Tour de France in 2008, claiming his fourth stage victory on his debut appearance.

Sixteen years later he seeks to complete an incredible career with another triumph there.

There will be no pressure, with history already made at this year's race, but - energy levels permitting - expect him to give this everything.

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The peloton are controlling solo attacker Thomas Gachignard's advantage, which remains just over two minutes with more than 50 kilometres still to cover.

Here's what Mark Cavendish's coach Vasilis Anastopoulos, Astana Qazaqstan's head of performance, had to say speaking to ITV earlier today:

"It feels like a relaxed day. We all know it is probably the last chance for Mark to sprint, not only at the Tour de France but also in his career.

"Everyone is motivated, especially after what the guys did on Sunday, to deliver Mark to the finish.

"I'm going to miss him a lot. He might be a pain in the arse, but in the end I love him for his dedication, for his hard work and for being as loyal as almost nobody else."

Mark Cavendish ensured he would live to fight for one more sprint after he was helped through the mountains on stage 15 by his Astana Qazaqstan team-mates.

The Tour's all-time stage record-holder made the cut-off time with less than two minutes to spare to keep alive his hopes of securing a final stage win in his farewell to the race.

Today he has the chance to reward his team's support with another memorable moment.

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Thomas Gachignard rolls over the sole categorised climb of the day at Cote de Fambetou with a lead of two minutes 20 seconds over the peloton. Something for the rest to thing about at least on an otherwise quiet stage 16.

Fair play to Thomas Gachignard, he's fully committing to this move.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has established a two-minute advantage over the peloton. Is this a serious threat? Only time will tell, but long, lonely kilometres now lie ahead for Gachignard.

Speaking after Sunday's 15th stage, Remco Evenepoel, third in the general classification at his first Tour de France and the best young rider so far at this year's race, said:

“Today Tadej and Jonas showed that they are the two best riders here. Tadej is even better, he is on another planet.

"I think Visma understood that he is unbeatable, but they still wanted to try. It wasn't a bad choice, but I don’t think it could have worked.

"Tadej is having a perfect year and he has reached his peak level. As far as I’m concerned, it’s my first Tour de France and I’m still here to learn, I still have time to progress.”

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Thomas Gachignard, of Total Energies, uses the disruption caused by the intermediate sprint to launch a solo attack.

Nobody is interested in following for now, 100 kilometres into today's stage.

Despite that curious move by Biniam Girmay's Intermarche-Wanty team, it's Bryan Coquard who comes through to take maximum points at the intermediate sprint - followed over the line by Jasper Philipsen, Anthony Turgis and then Girmay.

At the back of the peloton, Mark Cavendish is not remotely interested. He's collecting bottles from the team car. Eyes on the main prize.

Despite Biniam Girmay's commanding lead in the green jersey competition, Intermarche-Wanty are asserting themselves at the front of the peloton as we approach the intermediate sprint.

Jasper Philipsen is following closely...

It should be a relatively comfortable day for the general classification contenders.

Here are the thoughts of Tadej Pogacar on the overall race situation following his latest superb stage win on Sunday:

"I would have never imagined this kind of outcome, seeing how the second week began.

"I was never worried - all I cared about was keeping myself cool, hydrating and eating enough. The Visma team knew that the final climb was so steep that using somebody’s slipstream was not so influential, and they were probably hoping that I wouldn’t survive Jonas’ strong pace all the way to the finish.

"I was a bit on the limit when he first attacked, but afterwards I could feel he was suffering a bit. He tried to drop me one more time and I saw he didn’t have the legs to do it, so I gave it a go myself even though I was aware I might crack as well.

"Luckily, it went well. The Tour general classification is looking really good right now. We have a comfortable lead and just need to keep focused on these final six days of racing."

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We are approaching today's intermediate sprint, which is followed by the category four Cote de Fambetou.

Barring disaster, Biniam Girmay should end a hugely successful Tour, which has so far brought three stage wins, with the green points jersey.

Will this one be contested, or will he and Jasper Philipsen choose to keep their powder dry before today's expected bunch sprint?

Fifteen stages down, six more finish lines to go. Here's who is defending what as we get stuck into the final week of the race:

Yellow leader's jersey: Tadej Pogacar (three minutes nine seconds lead)

Green points jersey: Biniam Girmay (86-point lead)

Polka dot climber's jersey: Tadej Pogacar (worn by Jonas Vingegaard, 19 points behind)

White best young rider jersey: Remco Evenepoel (six minutes eight seconds lead)

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Warnings of potentially disruptive crosswinds are being sent out across team radios. Stay alert is the message.

For now, it's certainly the calm before any potential storm as the peloton cruises along rural roads.

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 61hrs 56mins 24secs
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +3mins 9secs
3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal- Quick Step) +5:19
4. Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates) +10:54
5. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal-Quick Step) +11:21
6. Carlos Rodriguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) +11:27
7. Adam Yates (GB/UAE Team Emirates) +13:38
8. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) +15:48
9. Derek Gee (Can/Israel-Premier Tech) +16:12
10. Santiago Buitrago (Col/Bahrain Victorious) +16:32

After Monday's rest day, the final week of the 2024 Tour de France is under way.

Will we see any more twists and turns? Tadej Pogacar has certainly done is best to try and put the general classification to bed in the first two weeks.

The Slovenian, 25, took a huge step towards reclaiming the Tour de France title as he produced another superb ride to secure a second straight stage win on stage 15.

Pogacar left two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard behind to claim his 14th stage win by one minute eight seconds, while Remco Evenepoel crossed almost three minutes down in third.

It means he begins the final week with an advantage of three minutes nine seconds over Vingegaard, while Remco Evenepoel is five minutes nine seconds off the overall lead in third.

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There's not loads to bring you up to speed on so far today. The peloton is together after 50 km of racing.

There is just 1200m of elevation gain on stage 16 and just one categorised climb, at Cote de Fambetou. That is a category four climb, featuring 1.2km at 5% gradient.

So, the sprinters will certainly expect to have a shot at victory in Nimes, where Mark Cavendish will still have to attempt to beat the likes of Biniam Girmay and Jasper Philipsen should the stage play out as expected.

However, there is a chance of crosswinds causing havoc and it could prove to be far from straight-forward for the general classification and sprinters teams to control...

Good afternoon!

We are into the final week of this year's Tour de France.

Stage 16 takes the riders from Gruissan to Nimes along a flat 188.6km route that is destined to end in a bunch sprint for any sprinters still with the legs to have a go following yesterday's rest.

It is in Nimes where Mark Cavendish will aim to end his final Tour sprint with victory, 16 years after his first.

Image source, Tour de France

Mark Cavendish has already made Tour de France history.

But, with Tadej Pogacar seemingly sweeping up stage wins at will, will the Manx Missile be able to find the strength to add one more triumph to move his record a little further out of reach?

Stage 16 is the final sprint stage at this year's Tour de France - and most probably the last of Cavendish's Tour career.

His work is done, he has claimed stage win number 35, but it would make his farewell to the race all the more epic if he can finish with another...

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