While we expected a calm day in the peloton, this 9th stage of this Tour de France Between Chinon and Châteauroux finally reserved a suspense scenario. Despite a sacred number of Jonas Rickaert and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), the latter was finally taken over 700 meters from the line by the peloton. And it was the sprinters who were won, with the victory of Tim Merlier (Sudal Quick-Step). Overpowered in the last straight line, the Belgian has ahead of Jonathan Milan (Lidl-trek) et Arnaud de Lie (Lotto). Not put in difficulty, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) keeps her yellow jersey.
VIDEO – TIM MERLIER winner of this 9th stage
? Caught with less than a km to go after a huge effort, @mathieuvdpoel couldn’t prevent the sprint. A look back at the last km of this 9th stage.
? Taken up less than a km from the finish after a huge issue, @mathieuvdpoel could not prevent the sprint. Back on the last … pic.twitter.com/rehkblSMaB
– Tour de France ™ (@LEtour) July 13, 2025
The summary
From the zero kilometer, a surprising duo decides to make the trunk, Mathieu van der Poel and his teammate Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-deceuninck). At first, everyone thinks that these two will get up after the intermediate sprint. MVDP Go first, but they decide not to get up. Behind, this is the majority of training Lidl-Trek of Jonathan Milan which leads the pursuit. But the training duo Alpecin-DECEUNINCK raises the gap up to 5 minutes. Despite several teams that help the Lidl-Trekthe gap does not go down. While JOAO ALMEIDA (Uae Team Emirates XRG), still suffering from his fall, is forced to abandon.
In the final of this stage, several portions discovered with side winds are on the program. The peloton accelerates, everyone wants to place themselves at the front. The advance decreases greatly, several borders are created, but no one of important is trapped. 5 kilometers from the finish, the head duo is only twenty seconds in advance and Rickshertexhausted, is forced to let go. Van der Poel Do everything to resist, but the peloton is getting closer … and it is finally taken over 700 meters from the line. The sprint is very disjointed, Jonathan Milan et Tim Merlier (Sudal Quick-Step) have no teammates, but are well placed. Side by side, the two big favorites launch their sprint, it's very tight, but in the last meters Merlier manages to make the difference and will seek his 2nd stage victory on this Tourin front Milan and a very good Arnaud de Lie (Lotto). Pavel Bittner (Picnic PostNL) et The country (Groupama-FDJ) complete the top 5.
Tour de France – ranking of the 9th stage
Tour de France – Provisional general classification after the 9th stage
