Peter Sagan wins stage 16 as Chris Froome keeps lead

Slovak Sagan beat Alexander Kristoff in a photo finish, with the Norwegian initially thinking he had won, after a chaotic end to stage 16 in Bern.

Manxman Mark Cavendish, victorious on Saturday, was in contention with 500m left, but could not mount a challenge.

Froome finished safely to keep his overall lead of one minute 47 seconds.

Britain's Adam Yates remains two minutes and 45 seconds adrift of Froome, who is chasing a third Tour de France victory.

Barring a withdrawal, world champion Sagan's win means he will keep the sprinters' green jersey for a fifth consecutive year after establishing an unassailable lead over Cavendish.

After a tough mountain stage in the Jura region of France on Sunday, the 209km stage into Switzerland's capital was considered an easier day.

But a category four climb, a cobbled section 2km from the finish and the tight Bern streets made it a frantic end to another hot day on this year's Tour.

Kristoff gets timing all wrong

Tinkoff's Sagan, who had not won a Tour stage in three years prior to 2016, said his latest victory showed that "destiny was turning his way".

But once a breakaway from Etixx-QuickStep's Tony Martin and Julian Alaphilippe had been swallowed up by the peloton, a third photo finish in this year's race showed the win was as much down to Kristoff's misjudgement as Sagan's lunge for the line.

The Katusha rider celebrated at the end, with one report of him giving a victory interview to Norwegian television before the result was confirmed.

"If I had thrown the bike, I was in front," Kristoff told ITV4. "I didn't really pay attention at the line so it was a pity."

Fabian Cancellera was among those who were edged out in the final straight, denying the Swiss rider a victory in his home city on his final Tour de France.

But the 35-year-old, who has won five Tour stages in his career, said he was "missing a last little something" as Sagan powered home.

Kristoff gets timing all wrong

Tinkoff's Sagan, who had not won a Tour stage in three years prior to 2016, said his latest victory showed that "destiny was turning his way".

But once a breakaway from Etixx-QuickStep's Tony Martin and Julian Alaphilippe had been swallowed up by the peloton, a third photo finish in this year's race showed the win was as much down to Kristoff's misjudgement as Sagan's lunge for the line.

The Katusha rider celebrated at the end, with one report of him giving a victory interview to Norwegian television before the result was confirmed.

"If I had thrown the bike, I was in front," Kristoff told ITV4. "I didn't really pay attention at the line so it was a pity."

Fabian Cancellera was among those who were edged out in the final straight, denying the Swiss rider a victory in his home city on his final Tour de France.

But the 35-year-old, who has won five Tour stages in his career, said he was "missing a last little something" as Sagan powered home.

(BBC)