Stage 9 – DS Insights

14 July, 2025

🟡 Tour de France 2025 – Stage 9 Review

📍 Route: Chinon → Châteauroux

📏 Distance: 174.1 km (Flat stage)

📆 Date: 13 July 2025

🚴 Stage Winner & Top Finishers

1. Tim Merlier (Soudal–Quick-Step)

2. Jonathan Milan (Lidl–Trek)

3. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto–Dstny)

🟡 General Classification (Top 5)

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) – 33h 17m 22s

2. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal–Quick-Step) –+54″

3. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa–B&B Hotels) +1’11″

4. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) +1’17″

5. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma–Lease a Bike) +1’34″

🟢 Points Classification (Green Jersey)

1. Jonathan Milan – 227 pts

2. Tadej Pogačar – 156 pts

3. Biniam Girmay – 151 pts

4. Tim Merlier – 150 pts

🔴 King of the Mountains (Polka Dot Jersey)

Tim Wellens – 8 pts (unchanged)

⚪ Young Rider Classification (White Jersey)

1. Remco Evenepoel

2. Kévin Vauquelin +17″

3. Oscar Onley +1’55″

🔨 Most Combative Rider

Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin–Deceuninck)

👥 Team Classification (Top 3)

1. Visma–Lease a Bike – 100h 30m 58s

2. UAE Team Emirates +7’53″

3. Groupama–FDJ +13’07″

🧠 Directeur Sportif Tactical Insights

Merlier timed his sprint to perfection for his second stage victory, overtaking Milan with sheer power. Milan’s consistency strengthens his grip on the green jersey, while De Lie reaffirms Lotto’s sprint capabilities. Rickaert and Van der Poel drove the day’s breakaway in a classic Alpecin tactic—force selection, apply pressure.

Pogačar, despite a calm day in yellow, now faces a critical shift with João Almeida’s abandon. UAE will need Wellens and Yates to step up in the climbs, especially with 4,500m of elevation on Stage 10 looming.

⛰️ Looking Ahead: Stage 10 Preview

The Massif Central will bite—brutal climbs expected to ignite the GC battle. KOM competition is wide open—expect fireworks from breakaway climbers. Evenepoel and Vingegaard must decide: hold position or strike? Pogačar’s team will be stretched without Almeida. GC chaos is coming.