Stage 16: Tyler Freaking Hamilton takes Stage 16!

Tyler Freaking Hamilton of Team CSC staged an epic 80+ mile breakaway to win his 1st Tour stage win (he was second to Jan Ullrich in a time trial in 1998). Hamilton picked up 2 minutes on everyone, which will move him up into 6th, with 4th and 5th possibly within striking distance during the Saturday time trial.

Hamilton became the 6th American to win a Tour stage (from memory: LeMond, Andy Hampsten, Jeff Pierce, Lance Armstrong, Tyler Hamilton, and Davis Phinney).

Erik Zabel took the field sprint for 2nd, picking up 17 points in the very close green jersey competition.

1) Tyler Freaking Hamilton (Team CSC) 4:59:41 2) Erik Zabel (Telekom) @ 1:55 3) Yuriy Krivtsov (Jean Delatour) same time 4) Luca Paolini (QuickStep-Davitamon) s.t. 5) Gerrit Glomser (Saeco) s.t. 6) Bram De Groot (Rabobank) s.t. 7) Marcus Zberg (Gerolsteiner) s.t. 8) Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) s.t. 9) Fabrizio Guidi (Team Bianchi) s.t. 10) Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) s.t.

Points were awarded down to 15th place, but green jersey Baden Cooke, Robbie McEwen, and Thor Hushovd were shut out, finishing together in a group 32:20 back.

All the leaders finished in the peloton, 1:55 back.