Merlier Claims Stage Nine Sprint as Van der Poel’s Breakaway Falls Short

Fierce Sprint Finish Decides Toughest Stage Yet

Belgian rider Tim Merlier secured his second victory on stage nine of the Tour de France in a dramatic sprint finish, narrowly beating compatriot Arnaud de Lie. The win came after an audacious breakaway attempt by Dutch star Mathieu van der Poel was thwarted in the final kilometer.

Van der Poel’s Bold Bid Unsuccessful

Mathieu van der Poel and his teammate Jonas Rickaert launched an early attack on the 174.1km route from Chinon to Chateauroux. Van der Poel, a former world champion, mounted a courageous solo effort that captivated spectators but ultimately couldn’t hold off the charging peloton.

Tim Merlier, who also triumphed on stage three, expressed the team’s determination. He stated:

“Five minutes [to Van der Poel in the break] is a lot but we tried to chase and also the other teams started to help. The pacing was quite high at the front, but it was hard for all the guys – the bunch was nervous. In the end we just went all in and I’m happy I can win my second stage here.”

—Tim Merlier, Stage Winner

Debate Continues Over Sprint Stage Value

The stage’s outcome reignited discussions about the strategic value of traditional flat sprint stages in modern cycling, which often hinge on the final kilometers. Chateauroux, historically a venue favored by sprinters, notably marked Mark Cavendish‘s record-breaking 35th Tour de France stage win in 2008.

Van der Poel revealed the inspiration behind his daring solo effort was a dream shared by his teammate Jonas Rickaert, who was awarded the day’s combativity prize.

“We wanted to go for it today because it’s his dream to be on the podium of a Tour de France. It’s hard not to be able to finish it off but we put up a good show today.”

—Mathieu van der Poel, Rider

The general classification saw no significant changes, with defending champion Tadej Pogacar maintaining his 54-second lead over Remco Evenepoel. Jonas Vingegaard remains in fourth place, 1 minute and 17 seconds adrift of the yellow jersey.

However, Pogacar‘s team suffered a blow as key support rider Joao Almeida was forced to abandon the race due to injuries sustained on stage seven. The Tour de France continues on Monday with a challenging 165.3km route from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy, featuring eight categorized climbs on Bastille Day.