Tim Merlier He has done it again. The Belgian has imposed in Chatleroux to Jonathan Milan. At a stage marked by the adventure of Van der Poel, He was about to surprise the platoon with an epic triumph, starting after the starting flag. The Dutch was neutralized 700 meters from the finish line, practically when Milan started a sprint in which he was clearly surpassed by Merlier. The Soudal takes its second stage triumph in this Tour, After winning the third.
The ninth stage of this Tour of Francia 2025 He toured 174 kilometers, between Chinon and Chateauroux. It was a stage destined for squad sprinters, since it was completely flat. But the Milan, Girmay or Merlier left competition. Mathieu van der Poel He was willing to be the protagonist of the stage. An attack as soon as he started encouraged the race, seriously threatening the arrival at the Sprint.
The Dutch left with his teammate, Jonas Rickaert, and endured until the final kilometers alone. They knead an income of 4:55 on the platoon. From behind, Lidl refused to take the reins to reduce the difference, which caused the escape to be more than expected.
When the teams called to dispute the stage finally began to be relieved, they quickly descended the difference with which the Dutch and the Belgian counted. The UAE was placed in the absence of 30 for the head of the squad, by order of Pogacar, To avoid fans. Courts were formed, who did not catch any of the general's men and the devilish rhythm of the men of Visma.
The Lidl men arrived, in search of neutralizing the two Alpecin corridors. One-X took over to go down to half a minute and, when they already entered Chatleroux, Rickshert He threw his partner towards a five -kilometer time trial.
With few options to arrive, but with all the claw of the world, the Dutch did not lower his rhythm, although the difference went down as the meters progressed. But the platoon was shot in the absence of 2.5 kilometers, Before entering the finish line, which was very long.
And it was there that Mathieu's adventure ended. Van der Poel He could not reach the finish line and culminate an authentic stage, which sprinters were played, as usual in Chatleroux. In the baptized as Cavendish City, where the British won three times, the Sprint fight was fulfilled.
Mathieu Van der Poel was neutralized 700 meters from the finish line, staying at the gates of completing a victory of the most epic. But the triumph was played by sprinters and, there, it was Merlier who imposed by pure speed at Jonathan Milan. The duel between the Soudal-Quick Step cyclist and the Lidl is the most at odds in this tour, leaving for the moment with two victories for the first and one for the second.
