Canadian Hugo Houle put on a brilliant performance to secure a dominant victory on stage 16 of the Tour de France.
It’s his first Tour stage win and the first Canadian to win on the Tour since Steve Bauer in 1988.
A late sprint secured second place for France’s Valentin Madouas while Israel-Premier Tech Houle teammate Michael Woods was third.
Jonas Vingegaard retained the overall lead after fending off multiple attacks from defending champion Tadej Pogacar.
An emotional Houle pointed in the air as he crossed the finish line and later dedicated the win to his brother Pierrik, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2012.
“I won that for him,” Houle said. “I worked 10, 12 years and today I got my win for him. It’s amazing, I don’t know what to say. I’m so happy.”
Race leader Vingegaard crossed the finish line alongside closest challengers Pogacar and Geraint Thomas, while the top three remained unchanged, but Colombia’s Nairo Quintana climbed into fourth ahead of France’s David Gaudu.
Level 16 results
- Hugo Houle (Can/Israel-Premier Tech) 4 hours 23 minutes 47 seconds
- Valentin Madouas (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +1:10
- Michael Woods (Can/Israel-Premier Tech) At the same time
- Matteo Jorgenson (Team USA/Movistar) +1:12
- Michael Storer (Aus/Groupama-FDJ) +1:25
- Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe) +1:40
- Dylan Teuns (Bel/Bahrain Victorious) Same time
- Simon Geschke (D/Cofidis) +2:11
- Mathieu Burgaudeau (Fra/TotalEnergies) +5:04
- Damiano Caruso (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) Same time
Overall level 16 rating
- Jonas Vingegaard (Den / Jumbo-Visma) 64 hrs 28 mins 9 secs
- Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates)+2:22
- Geraint Thomas (GB/INEOS Grenadiers) +2:43
- Nairo Quintana (Col/Team Arkea-Samsic) +4:15
- David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +4:24
- Adam Yates (GB/INEOS Grenadiers) +5:28
- Louis Meintjes (Rsa/Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materials) +5:46
- Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe) +6:18
- Romain Bardet (Fra / Team DSM) +6:37
- Tom Pidcock (GB/INEOS Grenadiers) +10:11
