Key events<\/p>\n
Show key events only<\/p>\n
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n
52km to go:<\/strong> A close up of Alpecin-Deceuninck<\/strong>\u2019s Jonas Rickaert<\/strong> showed him grimacing a little. He\u2019s putting in a terrific effort alongside team mate Mathieu van der Poel<\/strong> on the breakaway.<\/p>\n Ark\u00e9a-B&B Hotels<\/strong> are taking a turn driving the peloton, which has come back together after splitting earlier. Georg Zimmerman<\/strong> (Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty)<\/strong> is struggling after a crash earlier and is about 30secs behind the bunch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 57km to go:<\/strong> Jayco-Alula<\/strong> are taking a turn at the front of the bunch. Oscar Onley<\/strong> (Picnic PostNL<\/strong>) is back with the bunch. Alpecin-Deceuninck<\/strong>\u2019s Jonas Rickaert<\/strong> and Mathieu van der Poel<\/strong> are plugging away \u2013 they have 3min 24secs on the group.<\/p>\n In about 20km time, crosswinds come into play and there could be echelons.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 66km to go:<\/strong> Oscar Onley<\/strong>, Ben O\u2019Connor<\/strong>, Sepp Kuss<\/strong>, Mathieu Burgaudeau<\/strong> and Lenny Martinez<\/strong> are among the 22 riders in the group behind the peloton. The gap between the chasing group and the breakaway is up to 4mins.<\/p>\n The peloton in action during the ninth stage of the Tour de France 2025 from Chinon to Ch\u00e2teauroux. Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n 71km to go:<\/strong> There\u2019s a big split in the peloton and Wout van Aert<\/strong> (Visma-Lease a Bike<\/strong>) was caught behind it. He\u2019s just put in a big effort to bridge across. The gap between the breakaway and the peloton has dropped to 3mins 40secs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.34 EDT<\/p>\n Jo\u00e3o Almeida withdraws from the Tour de France 2025<\/p>\n The news is just coming in that Jo\u00e3o Almeida<\/strong> has withdrawn from this year\u2019s Tour. He dropped off the back off the peloton again and got in to the team car. UAE Team Emirates-XRG<\/strong> have just radioed the riders on the road to let them know.<\/p>\n Almeida, often referred to as the top lieutenant of Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/strong>, suffered a broken rib and a number of abrasions after crashing on stage seven.<\/p>\n Jo\u00e3o Almeida of UAE Team Emirates-XRG has withdrawn from the Tour de France 2025. Photograph: Tim de Waele\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.30 EDT<\/p>\n 82km to go:<\/strong> Soudal Quick-Step<\/strong> have decided to also participate in the chase with Lidl-Trek<\/strong> and Uno-X Mobility<\/strong>. The gap between the peloton and breakaway sits at about 5mins.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.31 EDT<\/p>\n There are some lovely scenic shots on the TV coverage, so here is my attempt to share some similar snaps:<\/p>\n The peloton cycles across the Pont Henri IV bridge in Chatellerault during stage nine. Photograph: Lo\u00efc Venance\/AFP\/Getty ImagesA spectator looks out a window as the peloton ride through Chatellerault on their way to Ch\u00e2teauroux. Photograph: Marco Bertorello\/AFP\/Getty ImagesJonas Rickaert and Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Deceuninck speed past a sunflower field during a breakaway on stage nine. Photograph: ShutterstockFans wait for the peloton during the ninth stage of the Tour de France 2025. Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n 91km to go:<\/strong> On the TV coverage, the riders can be seen pouring water from their bidons on to themselves. It\u2019s another hot day for the peloton, with the temperatures sitting at about 31C. There also isn\u2019t much shade on these exposed roads through the French countryside.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.11 EDT<\/p>\n 100km to go:<\/strong> With 100km to go, Alpecin-Deceuninck<\/strong>\u2019s Jonas Rickaert<\/strong> and Mathieu van der Poel<\/strong> have 5mins or so on the peloton. In other news, Jo\u00e3o Almeida <\/strong>(UAE Team Emirates XRG<\/strong>) is back with the bunch.<\/p>\n Also, Lidl-Trek<\/strong> have had takers and Uno-X Mobility <\/strong>have decided to collaborate, with Andreas Leknessund<\/strong> does a strong turn at the front of the bunch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Will<\/strong> has emailed in to say Adam Blythe<\/strong>\u2019s maths does need checking:<\/p>\n [The] Peloton only needs to go about 2km\/h quicker than the break to catch them.<\/p>\n Shame.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Damn. But, thanks for clarifying Will!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 110km to go:<\/strong> Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/strong> (UAE Team Emirates XRG<\/strong>) team mate, Jo\u00e3o Almeida<\/strong>, is struggling. He\u2019s been dropped by the peloton. He\u2019s riding with a broken rib after a crash in the final of stage seven.<\/p>\n Jens Voigt<\/strong> has got some intel on Pavel Bittner<\/strong> (Picnic-PostNL<\/strong>) \u2013 apparently the sprinter is OK but his team are still weighing up whether he\u2019ll contest the sprint later.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 114km to go:<\/strong> German national champion, Georg Zimmerman<\/strong> (Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty)<\/strong>, has crashed and landed off the road in the grass. He\u2019s back up and back on his bike but looks pretty sore with some road rash.<\/p>\n He\u2019s now being attended to by the doctor\u2019s car.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 116km to go:<\/strong> Mathieu van der Poel <\/strong>is in the virtual yellow jersey at the moment. The pair have just got a load of gels from the Alpecin-Deceuninck <\/strong>team car. Professional cyclists doing attacks like these consume about 120g (or more) of carbs per hour.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 123km to go:<\/strong> Lidl-Trek<\/strong> are diving the peloton but are the only ones at present. Alpecin-Deceuninck<\/strong> clearly won\u2019t be helping now and Tim Merlier\u2019<\/strong>s team Soudal-Quick-Step <\/strong>are looking after Remco Evenepoel<\/strong>. Lidl-Trek need another team to step up and join in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.32 EDT<\/p>\n 127km to go:<\/strong> Adam Blythe<\/strong> has gone for it by saying he thinks Alpecin-Deceuninck\u2019<\/strong>s Mathieu van der Poel<\/strong> and Jonas Rickaert <\/strong>will win the stage. He points out that the pair are riding at about 54km\/h with a tailwind so the peloton would have to go at about 60km\/h to catch them. I haven\u2019t checked Blythe\u2019s maths but you get the point. The gap is now at 5mins 26secs.<\/p>\n The classic Tour de France peloton riding alongside sunflower fields shot. Photograph: Dario Belingheri\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.30 EDT<\/p>\n Chris<\/strong> has messaged to say:<\/p>\n In a somewhat personal crusade to bring back this dormant Guardian feature:<\/p>\n Name That Breakaway: Van der Poel & Rickaert<\/p>\n A sublime 90\u2019s prog house duo, responsible for a slew of classics on the Platypus imprint and much favoured by Sasha & Digweed back in the day. Who can forget their remix of Orbital\u2019s Chime?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Any other takers for this game?<\/p>\n Alpecin-Deceuninck\u2019s Jonas Rickaert and Mathieu van der Poel \u2013 a 90\u2019s progressive house duo? Photograph: Lo\u00efc Venance\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n 132km to go:<\/strong> There\u2019s been a crash. Sprinters like Sam Watson<\/strong> (Ineos Grenadiers<\/strong>), Soren Waerenskjold<\/strong> (Uno-X Mobility<\/strong>) and Pavel Bittner<\/strong> (Picnic-PostNL<\/strong>) are down. All the riders involved are back on their bikes now but Waerenskjold looks in pain and visibly upset.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.23 EDT<\/p>\n 138km to go: Alpecin-Deceuninck\u2019<\/strong>s Mathieu van der Poel<\/strong> and Jonas Rickaert <\/strong>are now 4mins 30secs ahead of the peloton. After the results of the intermediate sprint, where Biniam Girmay<\/strong> (Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty<\/strong>) took 13 points, he remains in third place on the sprint classification and Van der Poel<\/strong> remains in fourth. According to my quick maths, nine sprint points seperate them at the moment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Mark<\/strong> has got in touch from Florida<\/strong>. He has a couple of questions:<\/p>\n In previous years, there were many double-wheeled moto bikes covering the Tour de France. This year I have not seen any. Any idea why? Are they out of fashion now days?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n And<\/p>\n Every cyclist seems to wear the same socks \u2013 white, mid-calf. What with all the aero testing done now days, I\u2019m surprised there is so little deviation \u2013 unless there is a sock rule. What do you know about this?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n I\u2019m not sure about the double-wheeled moto bikes, but I do know that there is a sock rule. There is a maximum sock height set by the UCI, so the riders will all be wearing the highest aero socks within the limit. The white socks might be due to the heat, but also the fact that so many are sporting white cycling shoes too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 146km to go:<\/strong> The peloton have reached the intermediate sprint. There\u2019s a group of five riders, including Jonathan Milan<\/strong> and Biniam Girmay<\/strong>, who do a \u201c70% effort\u201d (according to Sean Kelly<\/strong>) sprint for the reamining points.<\/p>\n Results of the intermediate sprint<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Van der Poel, 20 pts Share<\/a><\/p>\n 148km to go:<\/strong> Van der Poel<\/strong> is first over the line at the intermediate sprint, taking 20 green jersey points, and Rickaert<\/strong> bags 17 points. They\u2019re not sitting up! The duo have continued. They have almost 4mins on the peloton but there is such a long way to go.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.01 EDT<\/p>\n 151km to go: Sean Kelly<\/strong> on TNT Sports thinks Van der Poel<\/strong> and Rickaert <\/strong>might keep going after the intermediate sprint. It\u2019ll be interesting to see if they do.<\/p>\n Alpecin-Deceuninck <\/strong>just told Jens Voigt<\/strong>, who is out on the moto, that they expect the break to be allowed to go away before the intermediate sprint. They wanted to make the stage a little harder than yesterday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here are a couple of images coming in from the road:<\/p>\n The peloton during stage nine. Photograph: Beno\u00eet Tessier\/ReutersAlpecin-Deceuninck\u2019s Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert in a breakaway during the ninth stage of the Tour de France 2025. Photograph: Marco Bertorello\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n 156km to go:<\/strong> Alpecin-Deceuninck\u2019<\/strong>s Mathieu van der Poel<\/strong> and Jonas Rickaert<\/strong> are 3mins ahead now with 6km to go until the intermediate sprint.<\/p>\n Ineos Grenadiers<\/strong> team radioed their riders to say they think the breakaway will scoop up sprint points and then join back in the peloton.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Simon<\/strong> has emailed in with his thoughts on today\u2019s stage:<\/p>\n Going to be a quiet day \u2013 a hopeless breakaway and a slog for the poor domestiques who have to ride on the front of the peloton, keeping the break under control. A thankless task.<\/p>\n No doubt the GC chaps are kicking back, drinking vintage Chinon AOC, which can age for decades and apparently tastes like the \u2018depths of a forest after a storm\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n That\u2019s a beautiful description. It sound delicious (I think).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 163km to go:<\/strong> The Alpecin-Deceuninck<\/strong> duo in the breakaway have over 2mins on the peloton now. Behind them, Lidl-Trek<\/strong> have upped the pace slightly. The team\u2019s Jonathan Milan<\/strong> is the current green jersey wearer. Van der Poel is ranked fourth in the sprinter classification, so if he takes the 2o points at the intermediate sprint it could push him up a spot, ahead of Biniam Girmay<\/strong> (Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty<\/strong>).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.44 EDT<\/p>\n 166km:<\/strong> Jonas Rutsch<\/strong> (Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty<\/strong>) is receiving medical attention from the Tour doctor. His shoulder took a hit yesterday after coming down on his way into the finish. This morning he told reporters:<\/p>\n I was pulling most of the day and then I had finished my job and the only thing I could really do for the boys was to bring some bottles. I went back to the car, gave some vests, some bottles \u2026 And then I was coming back to the peloton, I was \u00e0 bloc. I looked down to put my bottle in the cage and when I looked up, a guy broke hard just in front of me. I touched his wheel and I couldn\u2019t save it any more and I crashed.<\/p>\n A crash at more than 50 km\/h is never fun. My shoulder is pretty banged up, a lot of road rash and bruises \u2026 But luckily nothing is broken. From now on I take it day by day. In two days we have a rest day so we\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n We try our best. We\u2019re here to race and of course today I don\u2019t feel 100% sharp but I will give it my best. I came here to help Biniam Girmay win a stage and we won\u2019t quit.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 170km:<\/strong> Van der Poel<\/strong> and Rickaert<\/strong> have stretched their gap to 1min 13secs already. Lidl-Trek<\/strong> are blocking on the front of the peloton and don\u2019t seem interested in shutting the breakaway down. The intermediate sprint is early on in the stage, coming up in 21km.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The racing has begun!<\/p>\n 172km to go:<\/strong> And we\u2019re off! Alpecin-Deceuninck\u2019<\/strong>s Mathieu van der Poel<\/strong> is straight off and up the road. He\u2019s been joined by team mate Jonas Rickaert<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.29 EDT<\/p>\n As a reminder, here\u2019s how the general classification for the yellow jersey looks:<\/p>\n General classification: top 10 after stage eight<\/strong><\/p>\n Tadej Poga\u010dar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) 29hrs 48mins 30secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step) +54secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n K\u00e9vin Vauquelin (Ark\u00e9a-B&B Hotels) +1min 11secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 17secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Mathieu <\/strong>van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +1min 29secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 34secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL) +2mins 49secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +3mins 2secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +3mins 6secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) +3mins 43secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Share<\/a>Today\u2019s rollout has begun<\/p>\n Stage nine <\/strong>of the Tour de France 2025<\/strong> is under way. The peloton have rolled out from a Chinon<\/strong>. There\u2019s a 7.6km neutralised section<\/strong> before the racing begins.<\/p>\n Danny Van Poppel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe <\/strong>before the start of the ninth stage of the Tour de France 2025. Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Stage nine<\/strong>\u2019s official race briefing comes today from French former pro-cyclist Gilles Maignan<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Stage nine, Chinon to Ch\u00e2teauroux, 174.1km [is] a stage made for sprinters. [There\u2019s] not much in the way of difficulty.<\/p>\n There will be a sprint after 24km, an intermediate sprint that could either launch the race or stall it if sprinters want to go for points. After that, there are no climbs. Not a single climber on this stage.<\/p>\n The only challenge might be the wind. If the wind picks up, that could change things. There will be a lot of direction changes along these 174km. A pure sprinter\u2019s finish, a long straight line, no traps, on wide boulevards.<\/p>\n There are a few turns before entering downtown Ch\u00e2teauroux. If the wind blows, it could play a role. But overall, a classic finish, a mass sprint, likely won by a pure sprinter like Cavendish who claimed his first win in Ch\u00e2teauroux. His very first of 35 Tour de France stage victories.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here is the route profile of stage nine<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019ll undoubtedly be hearing a lot about Cavendish\u2019s Ch\u00e2teauroux<\/strong> legacy today. Let me know if you have any memories of this, his first Tour stage win back in 2008:<\/p>\n Mark Cavendish winning the first of his record 35 Tour stage wins, in Ch\u00e2teauroux in 2008. Photograph: Tim de Waele\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>Stage nine: Chinon to Ch\u00e2teauroux, 174km<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at today\u2019s stage, Sunday 13 July: Chinon to Ch\u00e2teauroux, 174.1km, with William Fotheringham<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s preview:<\/p>\n British fans remember Chateauroux for the first of Mark Cavendish\u2019s 35 stage wins in 2008 and his 32nd in 2021. With not a single rated climb en route, this is bound to be a sprint day, and by this point, the pressure will be mounting on the fast men who are yet to win: if Philipsen and Merlier are on form, the finger will be pointing at Biniam Girmay and Dylan Groenewegen.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The preview was written before the Tour, so \n
\n
\n
\n
2. Rickaert, 17 pts
3. Milan, 15 pts
4. Girmay, 13 pts
5. Merlier, 11 pts
6. Turgis, 10 pts
7. Consonni, 9 pts
8. Coquard, 8 pts
9. De Lie, 7 pts
10. Plapp, 6 pts
11. Wright, 5 pts
12. Simmons, 4 pts
13. Valgren, 3 pts
14. Sweeny, 2 pts
15. Berckmoes, 1 pt<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n