{"id":3699,"date":"2025-07-13T17:28:41","date_gmt":"2025-07-13T15:28:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/?p=3699"},"modified":"2025-07-13T17:28:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T15:28:42","slug":"stage-9-tim-merlier-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/stage-9-tim-merlier-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Tour de France 2025 \u2014 Stage 9: Merlier Strikes Gold in Ch\u00e2teauroux!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ch\u00e2teauroux, July 2, 2025<\/strong> \u2014 In a stage dripping with tension, relentless speed, and audacious breakaways, it was Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)<\/strong> who rocketed to victory in Stage 9 of the Tour de France 2025<\/strong>, conquering the 174.1 km sprint finale<\/strong> in a scintillating 3 hours 28 minutes 52 seconds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day was electric, with Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)<\/strong> igniting the action early, launching a staggering 173 km solo escape<\/strong> at an eye-watering average of 49.9 km\/h<\/strong> \u2014 a masterclass in defiance. The dream was alive until 700 meters to go<\/strong>, when the relentless peloton reeled him in, setting the stage for a high-speed cavalry charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what a sprint it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Danny van Poppel<\/strong> lit the fuse for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, but it was Merlier who timed his launch to perfection, surging past Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)<\/strong> et Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny)<\/strong> to claim his third career Tour stage win<\/strong> \u2014 and his second of this edition<\/strong> after triumphing in Dunkerque earlier this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udcca Stage 9 \u2014 Top 5 Finishers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. \ud83e\udd47 Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)<\/strong> \u2014 3:28:52<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. \ud83e\udd48 Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) \u2014 s.t.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. \ud83e\udd49 Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) \u2014 s.t.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Pavel Bittner (Team Picnic PostNL) \u2014 s.t.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Paul Penho\u00ebt (Groupama-FDJ) \u2014 s.t.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    \ud83c\udf1f General Classification (After Stage 9)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Tadej Poga\u010dar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)<\/strong> \u2014 33:17:22<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)<\/strong> \u2014 +0:54<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. K\u00e9vin Vauquelin (Ark\u00e9a-B&B Hotels)<\/strong> \u2014 +1:11<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Poga\u010dar<\/strong> holds firm in yellow, as the GC battle simmers ahead of the looming mountain stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n\n\n\n

      \ud83c\udfc6 Points Classification<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)<\/strong> \u2014 227 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/strong> \u2014 156 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Biniam Girmay<\/strong> \u2014 151 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Tim Merlier<\/strong> \u2014 150 pts<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Milan retains the green jersey, but Merlier is closing fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n\n\n\n

        \ud83d\udd25 Highlight Moment: Van der Poel\u2019s Heroics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        The most combative rider today? No debate. Mathieu Van der Poel\u2019s 173 km solo adventure<\/strong> was pure Tour drama. Though heartbreakingly caught in the final kilometer, his grit earned him both the admiration of fans and the Combativity Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n\n\n\n

        \ud83d\udeb4 Quick Facts:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n