Merlier Powers to Second Stage Win as Van der Poel’s Solo Effort Falls Short

🏆 Tim Merlier does it again!

🏆 @MerlierTim refait le coup !#TDF2025 pic.twitter.com/LjRxjNdG2u

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 13, 2025

After 173 kilometers in the breakaway, the renowned Dutchman was caught just 750 meters from the finish. A chaotic, unorganized sprint without lead-out trains followed. It looked as though green jersey wearer Jonathan Milan would take the win, but in the final meters, European champion Tim Merlier proved too strong. With half a bike length, he claimed his second stage victory at this year’s Tour de France. Milan, who won on Saturday, finished second, narrowly beating Arnaud De Lie.

Merlier Grateful to Evenepoel and Team

“It was extremely hot. During that section with crosswinds and the splits in the peloton, I didn’t get enough water, and I overheated a bit. Without the heat, it would have been a nicer day, but it was very stressful. I really have to thank Remco Evenepoel and the rest of the team for today’s performance. Only in the last 200 meters did I have to accelerate, and I’m happy to take my second win of this Tour,” said the 32-year-old Belgian, who claimed his first Tour de France stage win in 2021 and has now added two more.

Remarkably, this was the fifth time Merlier and Milan have finished first and second in a sprint during a Grand Tour, with the Belgian winning every single time.

There were no significant changes in the general classification, except for Mathieu van der Poel, who dropped one place to sixth. After being caught, the classics master deliberately eased off, finishing 17 seconds back and yielding fifth place to Matteo Jorgenson. Tadej Pogačar remains in yellow, while Primož Roglič holds ninth place, 3:06 behind.

Van der Poel’s Solo Effort from Start to Final Kilometer

Stage 9 began in Chinon and concluded 174 km later in Chateauroux—renamed Cavendish City for the Tour, in honor of sprint legend Mark Cavendish, who won there in 2008, 2011, and 2021. The Manx sprinter, now retired, holds the record with 35 Tour stage victories.

From the start, Mathieu van der Poel and teammate Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) attacked, building a lead of over five minutes. For a time, Van der Poel was virtually in yellow. However, as the peloton increased its pace with 70 km to go, the gap shrank to just 30 seconds before growing again when the pace briefly dropped.

A Furious Finale at 50 km/h

Strong winds sparked multiple attempts to split the peloton in the final 50 km, but all were neutralized. With 5 km to go, Van der Poel was alone, finally being caught in the last kilometer.

“It seems even the race director wanted an exciting stage by helping with the motos. I don’t think we’ve ever gone this fast. There was so much action in the wind. I think the stage was too tough for Dylan Groenewegen. In the final kilometer, we tried to bring him forward, but he just shook his head,” said Luka Mezgec after the stage, which averaged a blistering 50 km/h. Organizers later confirmed it was the second-fastest stage in Tour history.

Almeida Forced to Abandon

Due to injuries from his crash on Stage 7, Joao Almeida has abandoned the Tour. The Portuguese rider, a key domestique for Pogačar, had fractured a rib but still completed Stage 8. However, with 80 km left of Stage 9, the pain became unbearable, and he was forced to stop.

This is a major blow for UAE Emirates, as the 26-year-old was in excellent form this year, winning the Tour of the Basque Country, Romandie, and Switzerland, while also finishing second at the Tour of Algarve and Valencia and sixth at Paris–Nice.

Monday’s Stage: A Bastille Day Test

There will be no rest day on Monday, as the traditional Bastille Day stage features the first mountain challenge of this Tour. In the Massif Central, riders face eight categorized climbs (seven of category two and one of category three), accumulating 4,450 meters of elevation over 165 km. The festive 10th stage concludes with a summit finish on Le Mont-Dore (3.3 km at 8%). A much-needed rest day finally follows on Tuesday.