Tour de France 2025: Merlier takes the win, but Van der Poel and Rickaert steal the show

foto: Cor VosWhat looks like a nailed-on sprint stage sees Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert try to upset the script with a long day in the breakaway. Van der Poel goes solo with 6 kilometres to go, but he’s caught just 800 metres from the line. Tim Merlier capitalises and powers to the win, while Tadej Pogacar retains the yellow jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 9th stage 2025 Tour de France

1. Tim Merlier (bel)
2. Jonathan Milan (ita) s.t.
3. Arnaud De Lie (bel) s.t.
4. Pavel Bittner (cze) s.t.
5. Paul Penhoët (fra) s.t.
6. Biniam Girmay (eri) s.t.
7. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
8. Jordi Meeus (bel) s.t.
9. Stian Fredheim (nor) s.t.
10. Kaden Groves (aus) s.t.

GC after stage 9
1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 0.54
3. Kévin Vauquelin (fra) + 1.11
4. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 1.17
5. Matteo Jorgenson (usa) + 1.34
6. Mathieu van der Poel (nld) + 1.46
7. Oscar Onley (gbr) + 2.49
8. Florian Lipowitz (ger) + 3.02
9. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 3.06
10. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 3.43

Race report
Jonas Rickaert and Mathieu van der Poel attack from the gun. The teammates pull away from the peloton without any trouble.

At the intermediate sprint, Van der Poel scoops up the maximum points, while green jersey wearer Jonathan Milan wins the sprint from the peloton nearly four minutes later.

The two widen their lead to 5 minutes and a half. For several kilometers, they maintain the gap, but in the final 50 kilometers it drops to 2 minutes. By then, João Almeida is no longer in the peloton. The Portuguese rider is suffering too much from his crash in the 7th stage and abandons the race.

Rickaert and Van der Poel still hold a 35 seconds lead with 6 kilometers remaining. Then Van der Poel heads out alone.

The peloton catches him with 800 metres to go, and in the ensuing sprint it is Tim Merlier who outpaces Jonathan Milan, while Arnaud De Lie crosses the third.

Tadej Pogacar remains in yellow.

Another interesting read: route 9th stage 2025 Tour de France.