Turin, 13 July (LaPresse) – Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) won the ninth stage of the Tour de France, a flat 174 km stage from Chinon to Chateauroux, ahead of Jonathan Milan (Lidl Trek) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto). The race was characterised by a two-man breakaway of over 170 km by Mathieu Van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert. The Alpecin Decuninck captain was caught by the peloton, which arrived at full speed less than a kilometre from the finish. There were no changes in the general classification: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) retains the lead ahead of Belgium's Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step), 54 seconds behind, and France's Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels), third at 1'11". Tomorrow is the eleventh stage of the Grande Boucle, a hilly 165 km stage from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy.
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