A thrilling stage 9 of the Tour de France 2025, covered at 50.0 km/h, with Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and the peloton battling through the wind, eventually saw Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) sprint to victory in Châteauroux. After spending the whole stage at the front, the Oranje attacker was caught inside the last kilometre, and the Belgian sprinter ultimately got the better of Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) on the line. He succeeds Mark Cavendish, winner of the last three Tour stages finishing in Châteauroux (2008, 2011 and 2021). With Merlier’s win in Dunkirk and Remco Evenepoel’s in Caen, this is Soudal Quick-Step’s third success in the Tour. The last time they grabbed that many was in 2021… That year, their third win already came in Châteauroux, thanks to Cavendish. Monday won’t be a rest day, as fireworks are expected on 14 July with a climbing-packed course through the Massif Central.
Back to back opportunities for the sprinters? After Jonathan Milan’s success in Laval, a flat course (174.1km, 1,400m of elevation) takes the peloton form Chinon to Châteauroux, aka “Cavendish City” after the Manx missile claimed three of his record 35 stage wins here, including his first, back in 2008.
MVDP changes the script
Alpecin-Deceuninck disrupt the expected scenario as Jonas Rickaert attacks as soon as the peloton pass km 0. He is rapidly joined at the front by his leader Mathieu Van der Poel. The Flying Dutchman scores 20 points at the intermediate sprint (km 24.2). At that point, the peloton trail by 3’45’’ under the guidance of Lidl-Trek… And the lead duo don’t wait for them.
The gap hits a maximum of 5’35’’ when the race reaches Châtellerault (km 46.2), hometown of a modern hero of the Tour, Sylvain Chavanel, who holds the record for most participations (18 consecutive, from 2001 until 2008). In the bunch, a crash involves sprinters like Sam Watson (Ineos Grenadiers), Soren Waerenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) and Pavel Bittner (Picnic PostNL).
Merlier rules a thrilling finale
Rickaert and Van der Poel accelerate again in the second hour - 50.5 kilometres! In the peloton, Uno-X Mobility lend a hand to Lidl-Trek. And the wind incites several accelerations that prove too much for Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), forced to retire a couple of days after his crash en route to Mûr-de-Bretagne (stage 7).
Visma-Lease a Bike put the hammer down on a wind-exposed section with 33 kilometres to go. The bunch explodes but the situation settles again. These accelerations bring the gap down to 55’’ with 20 kilometres to go. But the peloton slow down and the gap is back up to 1’20’’ into the last 15 kilometres.
The battle is brutal and Rickaert is done with 6 kilometres to go. Van der Poel is still 30 seconds away at that point. He’s eventually caught inside the last kilometre. Jonathan Milan smashes the pedals, just like he did in Laval. But this time, he’s beaten by Tim Merlier, claiming Soudal Quick-Step’s third win this year.
