Belgian cyclist Tim Merlier secured his second stage win at the 2025 Tour de France, outpacing his rivals in a dramatic sprint finish on stage nine. The Soudal Quick-Step rider crossed the line ahead of Jonathan Milan and Arnaud de Lie, marking another milestone in his impressive Tour campaign. Meanwhile, Mathieu van der Poel's courageous breakaway bid fell just short, leaving the Dutchman empty-handed despite a valiant effort.
Van der Poel, riding for Alpecin-Deceuninck, launched an ambitious attack alongside teammate Jonas Rickaert early in the 174.1km stage from Chinon to Chateauroux. The duo maintained a strong lead for much of the race, but their hopes were dashed in the final kilometer as the peloton closed the gap. Merlier capitalized on the opportunity, showcasing his sprinting prowess to claim victory.
"It was a tough day, but we gave it everything," Merlier said after the race. "The team worked hard to close the gap, and I’m thrilled to take another stage win."
Chateauroux, often referred to as 'Cavendish City' in honor of Sir Mark Cavendish’s historic 2008 victory, is traditionally a haven for sprinters. However, Van der Poel’s daring move added an unexpected twist to the stage, breaking the race into fragments and keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
The Dutchman later revealed that his breakaway attempt was inspired by Rickaert’s lifelong dream to stand on the Tour de France podium. "We wanted to make it happen for Jonas," Van der Poel said. "It’s disappointing not to finish it off, but we gave it our all."
In the general classification, defending champion Tadej Pogacar retained his lead, maintaining a 54-second advantage over Remco Evenepoel. Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time Tour winner, sits in fourth place, trailing by one minute and 17 seconds. Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates faced a setback with the withdrawal of Joao Almeida, who suffered injuries on stage seven, leaving a void in the team’s mountain strategy.
The Tour continues on Monday with a challenging Bastille Day stage, featuring eight categorized climbs over 165.3km from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy in the Massif Central.
Stage Nine Results: 1. Tim Merlier (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) – 3:28:52 2. Jonathan Milan (Ita/Lidl-Trek) – Same time 3. Arnaud De Lie (Bel/Lotto) – Same time 4. Pavel Bittner (Cze/Picnic PostNL) – Same time 5. Paul Penhoet (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) – Same time
General Classification After Stage Nine: 1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Emirates-XRG) – 33:17:22 2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) – +0:54 3. Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) – +1:11 4. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) – +1:17 5. Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma-Lease a Bike) – +1:34
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