Merlier Edges Out Milan to Win Stage Nine Sprint at Tour de France

Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier clinched victory in a thrilling finish to Stage Nine of the Tour de France, triumphing in a mass sprint that captivated cycling fans around the globe. The stage, which spanned 158 kilometers (98 miles) through the picturesque landscapes of central France, saw Merlier outpace Jonathan Milan, the previous day’s stage winner, as the pack surged towards the finish line

In a dramatic turn of events, the day’s early favorite, Mathieu van der Poel, showcased his formidable prowess with an impressive 173-kilometer breakaway. The Dutch rider, known for his flamboyant style and one-day classic victories, maintained an astonishing speed of approximately 30 mph (50 km/h) but ultimately fell short, being caught by the chasing peloton less than a kilometer from the finish.

Merlier’s victory marked a significant moment in the race, as he crossed the line ahead of Milan and Arnaud De Lie, who rounded out the podium. Despite the excitement on the stage, there was no significant change in the overall standings, with three-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar retaining the coveted yellow jersey.

The overall classification remains tight, with double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel trailing Pogacar by 54 seconds in second place. French cyclist Kévin Vauquelin sits third, 1 minute and 11 seconds behind, while two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard holds fourth at 1 minute and 17 seconds adrift.

However, the day was not without its challenges. João Almeida, a crucial teammate for Pogacar, was forced to abandon the race after suffering a fractured rib during Stage 7. Almeida, who was involved in a high-speed crash while vying for position, initially escaped serious injury but ultimately found the pain unbearable to continue in the grueling three-week race. His withdrawal marks a significant blow for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, as Almeida was coming off a strong performance in the 2024 Tour de France, having previously secured victories in the Tour de Suisse, Tour de Romandie, and Itzulia Basque Country.

As the Tour de France progresses, cycling enthusiasts are left on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating how the dynamics will shift in the coming stages. With Pogacar holding the lead and challengers like Evenepoel and Vingegaard lurking just behind, the competition is set to intensify as the riders navigate the challenges ahead.

VIDEO: 2025 Tour de France Stage 9 Highlights

2025 Tour de France Stage 9 Top 10

1. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step 3:28:52
2. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek
3. Arnaud De Lie (Bel) Lotto
4. Pavel Bittner (Cze) Picnic PostNL
5. Paul Penhoët (Ger) Groupama-FDJ
6. Biniam Girmay (Eri) Intermarche-Wanty
7. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious
8. Jordi Meeus (Bel) Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe
9. Stian Fredheim (Nor) Uno X-Mobility
10. Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin Deceuninck, all at the same time.

2025 Tour de France  GC after Stage 9

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirate-XRG, in 33:17:22
2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step, +54s
3. Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels, +1:11
4. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma-Lease a Bike, +1:17
5. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike, +1:34
6. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck, +1:48
7. Oscar Onley (GBr) Picnic PostNL, +2:49
8. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +3:02
9. Primož Roglic (Slo) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +3:06
10. Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Lidl-Trek, +3:43