Summary

  • Ruben Plaza wins stage, Peter Sagan second

  • Geraint Thomas falls into telegraph pole

  • Thomas able to continue and finish stage

  • Chris Froome retains overall 3min 10sec lead

  • British champion Peter Kennaugh quits

Live Reporting

Paul Fletcher

  1. Chris Froome on stage 16reuters

    I said Chris Froome was on his own in terms of team-mates, not quite true, he has Wouter Poels with him. 

  2. Still no word on Geraint Thomas. Vincenzo Nibali is going to claw some time back but not a huge amount. Chris Froome is still with the other big GC contenders about 15 seconds back.

  3. Rob Hayles
    Former GB cyclist

    That could have been Chris Froome. That's why you never take your eye off the ball on a stage like this.

  4. Simon Brotherton
    Cycling commentator

    Geraint Thomas has gone over the side of the road, hit his head on a telegraph pole and fallen into a bush. He tried to put his brakes on, but it was Barguil who lost control and barged him off. Thomas had no chance.

  5. No idea yet if Thomas is OK - or indeed back on his bike. Chris Froome now exposed.

  6. Big crash for Thomas

    Warren Barguil gets it wrong at a corner and runs into Geraint Thomas, who runs off the road and hits a telegraph pole.

  7. Peter Sagan reacts after finishing second on stage 16Getty Images

    The gap between Ruben Plaza and Peter Sagan was 30 seconds.

  8. Alejandro Valverde - fourth in the standings, 30 seconds behind Tejay Van Garderen - attacks and opens up some daylight. Chris Froome has the trusty Geraint Thomas with him.

    They are on the descent into Gap now.

  9. Rob Hayles
    Former GB cyclist

    We've expected this kind of move from Nibali, just to reassert himself, as he's struggled on this Tour and lost time in every stage.

  10. Vincenzo Nibali is working hard to claw some time back. He has 11km to the finish line. There does not seem to be any immediate panic among the riders behind him.

  11. Alberto Contador makes a move, Warren Barguil is caught. Then Vincenzo Nibali, more than eight minutes down on the GC standings, has a go and opens up some daylight. 

  12. So, the yellow jersey group are on the way up Col de Manse. Expect plenty of attacks - particularly on the fast descent into Gap.

  13. Yellow jersey

    And as all the breakaway riders cross the line, we can now start to focus a little more on events down the road....

  14. Peter Sagan crosses the lineAP

    And yep, another second place for Peter Sagan, his fifth of the Tour.

    What does he have to do to win a stage?

    Colombian Jarlinson Pantano is third. 

  15. Plaza wins stage 16

    Ruben Plaza Molina celebrates his stage winGetty Images

    Ruben Plaza, 35, wins his first stage at the Tour de France. And boy does he look thrilled about it.

  16. 1.5km to go

    Has Ruben Plaza done enough? If so Peter Sagan is heading for his fifth second place finish on this Tour. Remarkable.

  17. Simon Brotherton
    Cycling commentator

    Sagan is taking every risk imaginable here. And we've got a lot to look forward to with the maillot jaune group on this descent, too.

  18. 2.5km to go

    Peter Sagan looks in full pursuit mode. He has to make up 30 seconds in 2.5km.

  19. 3.5km to go

    Ruben Plaza Molina leads the stageAP

    Ruben Plaza still in front. Peter Sagan chasing him hard and Colombian Jarlinson Pantano not far behind him.

  20. 4km to go

    Wow, this chase to the line could go very wrong for someone.

    The main group at the bottom of the category two climb is splitting all over the place.

    There are about 15 or so riders in the group with Chris Froome. That could get tasty.