Stage 16 | Moirans-en-Montagne to Bern | Tour de France 2016

In this episode of The Telegraph Cycling Podcast, Richard Moore and Lionel Birnie are joined by Daniel Friebe to discuss the 16th stage of the Tour de France from Moirans-en-Montagne to Bern in Switzerland.

Two Etixx-Quick Step riders – Tony Martin and Julian Alaphilippe – broke away from the peloton and rode together, with the German Martin doing the bulk of the work.

With 25 kilometres to go Alaphilippe was dropped and Martin was caught shortly after. There was a short-lived attack by Portugal’s Rui Costa before the inevitable sprint.

There was to be no fairytale finish in his home town for Fabian Cancellara, who is riding his last Tour before retirement.

In the finishing straight, Peter Sagan timed his lunge for the line perfectly, while Alexander Kristoff mistimed his, and so the Slovakian took his third stage win of this Tour in a photo finish.

In this episode we hear from Etixx-Quick Step sports director Brian Holm about Martin and Alaphilippe’s attack and he explains how it came about. We also hear from Germany’s John Degenkolb who was fourth again as he continues to return to the top level after recovering from a horrific collision with a car during the Giant-Alpecin training camp in Spain at the start of the year, as well as Degenkolb’s coach Marc Reef.

There’s also a short conversation with Spanish journalist Laura Meseguer about Movistar’s tactics as they go into the Alps with Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde poised just below the podium positions.

There’s also the daily Pédaleur de Charme prize and a slightly demob-happy atmosphere among the podcast team with a rest day in Bern to look forward to.

The Telegraph Cycling Podcast is supported by Rapha and Eurosport.