Tour De France 2025: Tim Merlier Edges Out Jonathan Milan To Win Stage Nine

4 days ago

Tim Merlier out-sprinted Jonathan Milan to triumph connected shape 9 of nan Tour de France aft Mathieu van der Poel almost pulled disconnected an audacious triumph successful Chateauroux.

Van der Poel had rolled disconnected nan beforehand of nan peloton alongside his Alpecin–Deceuninck teammate Jonas Rickaert astatine nan commencement of nan 174km shape from Chinon successful what looked a definite termination mission, but nan Dutchman held disconnected nan chasing battalion until nan last fewer 100 metres.

The Alpecin-Deceuninck escapade had forced rival teams to pain their lead-out men successful a furious pursuit done crosswinds successful nan last 30km of nan stage, and pinch nan sprint trains thoroughly depleted nan speedy men had to fend for themselves astatine nan finale. Milan, Saturday’s shape winner, had bully position connected nan barriers but Merlier went agelong and nan European champion pipped nan Italian to nan line.

“It was really hard,” said Merlier, who besides won shape three into Dunkirk. “Five minutes [to Van der Poel] is simply a batch but we tried to pursuit and besides nan different teams commencement to help, nan pacing was rather precocious astatine nan front, but it was difficult for each nan guys. The bunch was nervous. In nan extremity we conscionable went each successful and I’m happy I tin triumph my 2nd shape here.”

There has been statement successful caller days astir nan semipermanent worth of level sprint stages successful nan Tour, pinch nan conflict for UCI points meaning less teams tin beryllium tempted into breakaways, but this 1 surely delivered immoderate drama. Chateauroux, this week renamed Cavendish City successful honour of Sir Mark, who took nan first of his Tour-record 35 profession shape victories present successful 2008, has only ever known sprints successful its history successful nan race, but Van der Poel did his champion to break that streak.

When he and Rickaert went early, it looked for illustration a play purely for nan intermediate sprint points, but they rolled done that statement early successful nan time and conscionable kept going, building a lead of much than 5 minutes. Even arsenic teams furiously fought for position successful nan upwind behind, nan lead still held astatine 50 seconds pinch 10km to spell arsenic splits appeared successful nan peloton.

Rickaert fell backmost pinch 6km near and it became a consecutive conflict betwixt nan powerful but shattered Van der Poel and immoderate disorganised lead-out trains behind. It would spell nan peloton’s way, but Van der Poel sewage astatine slightest 1 wish pinch Rickaert being named nan astir combative rider of nan day.

“We wanted to spell for it coming because it’s his dream to beryllium connected nan podium of a Tour de France,” Van der Poel said. “It’s difficult not to beryllium capable to decorativeness it disconnected but we put up a bully show today.”

There was nary alteration astatine nan apical of nan wide classification, pinch Tadej Pogacar remaining 54sec clear of Remco Evenepoel. Jonas Vingegaard is down Kévin Vauquelin successful fourth, 1min 17sec disconnected yellow. However, location was a rustle for Pogacar arsenic teammate João Almeida abandoned nan title arsenic a consequence of injuries suffered connected shape seven.