Tour de France 2025: Stage 9 Route – Chinon to Châteauroux

Stage 9 delivers one of those quintessential Tour de France days — a long, flat, high-speed transit through the heart of rural France, from the wine-soaked banks of the Vienne in Chinon to the sprint-rich history of Châteauroux.

On paper, it’s a day for the sprinters. The absence of categorised climbs makes the profile look like an ECG in steady rhythm, and the expectation is simple: a bunch sprint. But this is France in July, and flat doesn’t mean easy. The roads here twist and turn across open plains and through small towns where echelons could split an inattentive peloton if the wind stirs.

Expect drama. Expect speed. Expect a furious dash to the line in a finish tailor-made for the world’s fastest men on two wheels.

What’s Special About Stage 9?

But don’t be fooled by the profile — there’s still room for mischief. Crosswinds could strike between km 130 and km 150, where the road opens up through exposed farmland, and you better believe the savvy GC teams will have their eyes peeled. One inattentive moment, one dropped wheel, and your race can unravel faster than a snapped derailleur cable.

The final 5 km through Châteauroux is a sprinter’s paradise: big boulevards, wide roundabouts, and a dead-straight, 500-meter drag strip down Avenue de la Châtre to the line. It’s where raw speed meets fearless positioning and where the best lead-out trains will flex every watt to deliver their fast men to glory.

In short?
This isn’t just a flat stage — it’s a 2025’s detailed showpiece for the fastest humans on two wheels, with green jersey points, sprint bragging rights, and a coveted Tour stage win on the line. Expect the kind of final 3 km that makes commentators scream and fans leap off their couches.

Detailed Stage 9 Route — Tour de France 2025

All eyes will be on the final run-in to Avenue de la Châtre — now dubbed ‘Cavendish Avenue’ — the stretch of tarmac where sprinting legends are minted. It was here that Mark Cavendish won his first Tour stage in 2008, and returned for repeat victories in 2011 and 2021, cementing the town’s name in the annals of sprinting history.

Chinon to Châteauroux — a journey through vineyard country, châteaux-dotted hamlets, and history-steeped villages, ending in one of the Tour’s most fabled sprint finales. The 174.1-kilometre route is devoid of categorised climbs but peppered with minor undulations and exposed stretches where wind could provoke echelons if the conditions align.

Here’s how it unfolds, kilometre by kilometre:

📍 Départ fictif — Chinon (km 0)

The peloton rolls out from the medieval town of Chinon, a place of Loire Valley legend — known for its imposing château, cave-carved wine cellars, and a past woven into the fabric of English and French monarchy. From here, the race heads south-east, over the river Vienne, towards the official start line.

📍 Départ réel — D749, near Rivière (km 0)

The flag drops on the D749, and the racing begins in earnest.

📍 Early Phase: Le Coudray → Champigny-sur-Veude → Richelieu (km 0-25)

Flat, fast, and immediately into open countryside. The peloton will sweep through Champigny-sur-Veude, skimming the grounds of a Renaissance château, and onward to Richelieu, the ‘ideal city’ meticulously planned by Cardinal Richelieu in the 17th century.

🏁 Intermediate Sprint: La Belle Indienne (km 24.2)

A tiny hamlet named after an old fabric merchant, La Belle Indienne hosts the day’s intermediate sprint. Points for the green jersey are up for grabs — expect early breakaways or opportunistic sprinters to show here.

📍 Midsection: Orches → Châtellerault (km 25-90)

The race continues through gently rolling farmland and across the Vienne département, passing through Châtellerault, a town once famed for sword-making and later for its state-run arms factory. It’s a passage of history as well as racing — the roads here have seen centuries of trade and warfare, now traded for the tactical warfare of the Tour peloton.

📍 Eastern Push: Coussay-les-Bois → La Roche-Posay → Azay-le-Ferron (km 90-130)

Skirting past the spa town of La Roche-Posay and through Azay-le-Ferron, the peloton enters the wild wetlands of the Parc Naturel Régional de la Brenne. It’s here, on exposed roads bordered by forest and marsh, that any crosswinds could tear the race apart if a motivated team seizes the moment.

📍 Final Approach: Mézières-en-Brenne → Buzançais → Villedieu-sur-Indre (km 130-165)

Through quiet villages and over small rivers, the race follows fast, straight roads to Buzançais and Villedieu-sur-Indre. The sprinters’ teams will be finessing their lead-outs by now, ensuring their fast men stay protected and in prime position.

📍 The Run-in: Châteauroux (km 165-174.1)

Approaching Châteauroux via the D956 Avenue de Blois, the peloton crosses the river Indre by Château Raoul, then threads through a brief series of urban turns:

• Left onto Boulevard de Cluis
• Right onto Avenue de la Châtre

Avenue de la Châtre — now unofficially ‘Cavendish Avenue’ — delivers a dead-straight, 1.5-kilometre drag to the finish outside Stade Gaston-Petit. It’s wide, flat, and built for speed. Two sharp corners at 2km to go make positioning critical; from there, it’s full gas to glory.

📊 Green Jersey Points:

• Intermediate Sprint: 20 pts for 1st down to 1 pt for 15th
• Stage Finish: 50 pts for 1st down to 2 pts for 15th

⏱️ Time Bonuses:

• 10s for 1st place
• 6s for 2nd
• 4s for 3rd

Key Sectors & Potential Race Scenarios — Stage 9, Tour de France 2025

Though the profile is flat and stage 9 seems destined for a bunch sprint, this is a Tour de France stage — and no Tour stage is ever simple. Here’s where the race could twist, turn, or splinter:

📌 Key Sectors

🟢 La Belle Indienne — Intermediate Sprint (km 24.2)

The first tactical flashpoint.
Expect breakaway hopefuls or opportunistic sprinters gunning for green jersey points. If the peloton allows a small group off the front early, this is where they’ll stake their claim.

• Tactical Interest:
  • Early break formation
  • Points battle for sprinters outside the top tier
  • Possible sprint train dry run for final kilometres

🌬️ Parc Naturel Régional de la Brenne — Exposed Roads (km 95-130)

A deceptively significant stretch.
Though flat, these open, marshland roads leave the race vulnerable to crosswinds. If a team like Alpecin-Deceuninck, Lidl-Trek, or Ineos Grenadiers senses opportunity, this is where echelons could form.

• Tactical Interest:
  • Potential echelon action if the wind blows
  • Key GC teams must stay alert
  • Sprinter teams’ domestiques critical to keep their men in front group

Wind forecast check mandatory on race morning.

🏁 Final 3 Kilometres — Urban Corners & the Drag Strip (km 171.1-174.1)

The last 3km are deceptively tricky for a flat stage:

• At 2km to go:
  • A left turn onto Boulevard de Cluis
  • Immediately followed by a sharp right onto Avenue de la Châtre
• From 1.5km out:
  • Dead-straight finishing drag
  • Wide, smooth tarmac built for top-speed lead-out trains

Positioning before those two corners is everything. A poorly timed move or a slip in the final bends can see even a top sprinter boxed out.

• Tactical Interest:
  • Sprint teams jostle hard from 5km out
  • High-speed lead-out battle
  • Risk of crashes or splits if tension spikes

📊 Potential Race Scenarios

📌 Scenario A — Classic Bunch Sprint (85% likelihood)

Flat profile, no categorised climbs, and a dragstrip finish. Everything points to a mass sprint showdown. Expect Alpecin-Deceuninck (for Merlier), Lidl-Trek (for Milan), and Bora-hansgrohe (for Meeus) to control the day.

• Favourites: Merlier, Milan, Philipsen, Groves
• Wildcards: Girmay, De Lie

📌 Scenario B — Echelons in the Brenne (10% likelihood)

If crosswinds hit in the open marshland sections around Mézières-en-Brenne and Paulnay, a savvy GC team or sprinter’s squad might split the race.

• Impact:
  • GC contenders could lose time
  • Pure sprinters caught out of position
  • Only the sharp and well-positioned survive in the front echelon

Stage finish still likely from reduced sprint group.

📌 Scenario C — Late Breakaway Surprise (5% likelihood)

A brave late flyer in the final 5km could exploit hesitation in sprint trains. Unlikely on a stage this flat, but a rider like Mathieu van der Poel or Søren Kragh Andersen could tempt fate.

• Impact:
  • Successful only if the sprint teams miscalculate
  • Usually reeled in under the flamme rouge

Conclusion:
It’s written for the sprinters, with a critical final 2km and the lurking threat of echelons mid-stage. Expect a fierce fight for position into Avenue de la Châtre, where a new name (or a familiar one) will add themselves to Châteauroux’s roll of honour.

Detailed Route Table:

Favourites for the Win — Stage 9, Tour de France 2025

The script screams bunch sprint, and the cast is packed with top-drawer fast men. With no climbs and a textbook dragstrip finale, the favourites list is headlined by the Tour’s most powerful finishers. Here’s how we see the sprint hierarchy ahead of Stage 9:

⭐⭐⭐ Three-Star Favourites

🥇 Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)

The form sprinter so far — sharp, ruthless, and with a reliable lead-out. Already victorious on Stage 5, Merlier’s high-speed top end and positioning prowess make him the top pick for Châteauroux’s flat finish.

🥈 Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)

Italy’s powerhouse. Took second to Merlier in the Tour’s first bunch sprint, with an imposing, long-range kick. The wide, straight run-in here suits Milan’s raw wattage perfectly.

⭐⭐ Two-Star Favourites

Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Consistent top 5 finishes this Tour and always in the mix. If Philipsen isn’t at his sharpest, Groves could be the one Alpecin back for glory.

Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla)

Experienced, tough in the scrappy finishes. While his lead-out hasn’t looked flawless so far, Groenewegen thrives in straight, dragstrip finales like this.

Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility)

The under-the-radar Norwegian sprinter has the raw power and a tight-knit lead-out. A wide-open finish like this might be his shot to sneak onto the podium.

Jordi Meeus (Bora-hansgrohe)

Strong, consistent sprinter with a fast final 100 metres. If the big names hesitate, Meeus has the savvy and sprint to snatch a result.

⭐ One-Star Outsiders

Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty)

Riding high on morale after a historic stage win earlier in the race. A dragstrip finish isn’t his ideal, but the Eritrean can thrive in chaotic finales.

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny)

Rising Belgian star with top-10 consistency. Still waiting for his Tour breakthrough, but capable of upsetting the hierarchy if positioned well.

Paul Penhoët (Groupama-FDJ)

Young French sprinter growing stronger each sprint stage. An outside shot for a top-5 if things get messy late.

Food & Drink Pairing — Stage 9, Tour de France 2025

As the peloton winds through the sun-drenched roads of the Loire Valley — past vineyards, riverside towns, and medieval châteaux — there’s no better excuse to indulge in some regional gastronomy to match the scenery. This stage’s culinary pairing is as refined and mellow as the terrain itself.

🍷 Loire Valley White Wine: Quincy AOC

One of the Loire’s lesser-known but utterly charming appellations, Quincy produces crisp, citrusy Sauvignon Blancs with notes of lemon zest, white flowers, and flinty minerality. Perfectly chilled, it’s the ideal glass to savour as the race glides past rivers and Renaissance turrets.

🐟 Freshwater Fish with Beurre Blanc

A Loire Valley classic: delicate pike or perch from the river, gently poached and topped with a silky beurre blanc sauce — a reduction of shallots, white wine, and butter. Rich yet balanced, it mirrors the stage’s effortless, flowing profile.

🧀 Local Goat’s Cheese: Selles-sur-Cher & Sainte-Maure

The Loire’s legendary goat cheeses are creamy, tangy, and often cloaked in a fine dusting of edible ash. Enjoy them on a baguette or with a drizzle of local honey for a rustic, authentic bite as the race nears Châteauroux.

🍽️ The Vibe

A mellow, refined gastronomic experience for a stage rolling through France’s storybook heartland. Pair the laid-back, picturesque landscape with bright wines, fresh river fish, and soft, tangy cheeses — the very essence of Tour de France terroir.

Timing, Key Milestones & Expected Finish Window — Stage 9, Tour de France 2025

A flat, fast day through central France, with timings designed for a high-speed finale and sprinters’ showdown in Châteauroux. Here’s how the day breaks down:

⏰ Timings (Local CEST)

Centre-Val de Loire’s Love Affair with the Tour

The Centre-Val de Loire region isn’t just about castles, vineyards, and Joan of Arc’s footsteps — it’s a proper cycling heartland. Here’s why Stage 9’s route is low-key iconic:Favourites for the Win — Stage 9, Tour de France 2025

The script screams bunch sprint, and the cast is packed with top-drawer fast men. With no climbs and a textbook dragstrip finale, the favourites list is headlined by the Tour’s most powerful finishers. Here’s how we see the sprint hierarchy ahead of Stage 9:

Chinon’s Tour Connection

First featured in the 1906 Tour de France, the town’s cobbled streets and riverside lanes have always served up drama.

Last hosted a stage start in 1995 — a windswept day that saw breakaway carnage on these same rolling plains.

Chinon’s medieval fortress and narrow riverfront roads make it one of the prettiest start towns on this year’s Tour.

Châteauroux’s Sprinting Legacy

• Became a Tour stage finish hub in modern Tour history:
  • 1998: Tom Steels won a hectic bunch sprint.
  • 2008: Mark Cavendish claimed one of his first Tour victories here.
  • 2021: Cavendish returned to win again, 13 years after his first — pure Tour poetry.
• Known for wide boulevards and a dead-flat run-in. A pure sprinter’s paradise, it’s the kind of finish town that practically guarantees a bunch gallop.

Centre-Val de Loire’s Tour Role

Historically, this region was a crucial connector in the early Tours, linking the Atlantic and the Alps.

Famous for crosswind ambushes, especially along the wide agricultural flats.

Hosted Tour legends: Anquetil, Hinault, and Jalabert all made decisive moves on these roads.

Stage 9 of the tour is everything a Tour flat stage should be — long, open, fast, and nervy. On paper, this one’s a day for the sprinters’ teams to control from flag to finish, reeling in the token breakaway just in time for a textbook boulevard sprint.

Stay up front, stay alert, and don’t get lazy. Flat doesn’t mean easy. At the Tour, no day is free.

✔️ Sprinters’ day on paper.
✔️ Possible crosswind carnage if conditions flip.
✔️ Lead-out battles worth the price of admission alone.