Tour de France in Nîmes: the best spots to see the stage between Sommières and Nîmes this Tuesday July 16

As in 2021, where Nils Politt won, the arrival in Nîmes will be on the ring road at 7 Collines. Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

The 16th stage of the Tour de France 2024 will connect Gruissan, in Aude, to Nîmes, where the finish will be on the ring road. Midi Libre gives its good tips for seeing the runners pass through the Gard.

Stage 16 will start this Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. from Gruissan in Aude and will enter the Gard via Sommières, around 4:00 p.m. nbsp;h 30. The peloton will cover 50 km in the department, passing through Calvisson, Aubord and Caissargues, to finish in Nîmes.

The route of the stage of July 16.

The climb between Sommières and Villevieille

The road between Galargues (in Hérault) and Sommières, not very wide and a little hilly, offers strategic places to see the runners, who cannot be at maximum speed.

In the Gard city, athletes will slow down, because of the narrow streets. The most interesting will probably be at the intersection between avenue Gaussen and the route de Nîmes. Cyclists will turn 90 degrees, before attacking directly the small hill of start of the road to Nîmes.

Our advice: stand near the bend or on the slightly curved slope, which is a little over a kilometer long. Don’t necessarily try to gain height. At Villevieille Castle, the view does not overlook the roadway below.

The crossing of Vergèze

Between Aujargues and Congénies, the stony paths along the D40 can become strategic posts. In certain places, embankments overhang the roadway, up to 3 ;nbsp;m approximately, and allow you to have a broader view of the route.

The crossing of Vergèze offers a slowdown, thanks to the passage through an urban area and perhaps also to the slight climb of Avenue du Pic. As in Sommières and Villevieille, it is better to position yourself on the outside of the curve of the slope. After Vergèze, avoid the part of the road which runs along the Philippe-Lamour canal, there is little space on the side of the road.

At the D’Alzon high school roundabout in Vestric-et-Candiac, the turn to go towards Aubord is a hairpin. Runners will surely slow down, giving a little more time to look for Pogacar or Vingegaard.

Arrival in Nîmes

From there, on the Chemin des Canals, there are practically only long straight lines, often clear but flat and rarely shaded. Cyclists will join the Route de Beaucaire at the roundabout before Rodilhan. Until the bridge on the A9, the double track will have the advantage of being in the shade of the plane trees.

The best thing is to watch the finish on the Nîmes ring road. This stage is made for sprinters and everything will certainly be decided in the last kilometer. As in 2021, the runners will finish on Boulevard Allende, near the 7 Collines shopping center. Arrival is expected around 5:40 p.m. You will have to come early to get good seats.

Collection areas, ideal for collecting cans

You can aim for the feeding zones, demarcated by official signs, because the runners slow down to catch at drink or &agrav; eat.

Before and after these refreshment points, the waste collection areas will be an opportunity to collect cans and bags. There are between four and eight depending on the stages. There is generally a 20km refueling stop before arrival, which will be for stage 16 a little before Aubord. There will therefore be two collection zones, at the entrance and at the exit.

The Tour caravan will pass 1 h nbsp;before the riders.

To get to the course, be careful, some lanes will be closed to traffic several hours before the peloton passes. Consult the cuts of the departmental roads and the traffic plan in Nîmes.