The crazy escape from Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert, the 2nd victorious sprint of Tim Merlier … The summary of the 9th stage

And at the end, it's a sprinter winning! Promised on a mass arrival, this 9th stage of the Tour de France 174 kilometers between Chinon and Châteauroux nevertheless almost experienced a completely different epilogue. The “fault” to Jonas Rickaert and Mathieu Van der Poel, who decided to sign a breakaway of more than 170 kilometers, Sunday July 13.

Leaving from the first kilometers, the two team members of Alpecin-Deceuninck resisted the return of the sprinters teams, before being resumed only 700 meters from the finish line. “MVDP” and his escaped companion took advantage of a favorable wind to count up to 5'30 “in advance. Too tired to continue, Rickaert had to resolve to let Dutch finish alone. But on the” avenue Cavendish “in Châteauroux, this stage was therefore played in the sprint. At this little game, the Belgian Tim Merlier had the last word, Jonathan Milan, winner the day before in Laval, and the Belgian Arnaud de Lie, to double the bet, six days after his success in Dunkirk.