Tim Merlier Wins Ninth Stage of Tour de France with Sprint Finish Over Jonathan Milan

Belgian cyclist Tim Merlier won the 9th stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, defeating Italian Jonathan Milan in a final sprint. Merlier's victory came after an initial attack by Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel, who led the stage until the final kilometer. This is Merlier's second stage win in the Tour this year, following a similar victory over Milan in the 3rd stage.

Belgian cyclist Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) emerged victorious in the 9th stage of the Tour de France 2025 on Sunday, defeating Italian Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) in a thrilling final sprint. This marks Merlier's second stage win of the race, following his victory over Milan in the 3rd stage [1].

The stage, which covered 174.1 kilometers from Chinon to Châteauroux, was dominated by a breakaway led by Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) until the final kilometer. Van der Poel's effort, which lasted for 173 kilometers, ended in heartbreak as he was caught just before the finish line [2].

Merlier and Milan went head-to-head in the final sprint, with Merlier's aerodynamic advantage potentially making the difference. The Belgian cyclist edged ahead in the final meters to secure his 62nd career victory. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) rounded out the podium in third place [1].

The victory was significant for Merlier, who has shown consistent form in the race. His second stage win in the Tour this year follows a similar victory over Milan in the 3rd stage. This performance positions Merlier as a strong contender in the sprint competitions throughout the race [1].

The overall standings remain unchanged, with defending Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) maintaining his lead of 54 seconds over Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl). Local star Kevin Vauquelin (TotalEnergies) is in third place, two-time TDF champion Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) is fourth, and Mathieu van der Poel is fifth [3].

The Tour de France 2025 continues with 12 stages remaining, promising more excitement and competition among the top riders. With the race entering its middle stages, the focus is shifting towards the mountain stages and the potential for general classification changes.

References:
[1] https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2025/stage-9/results/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/en/merlier-edges-milan-sprint-finish-win-stage-nine-tour-de-france-2025-07-13/
[3] https://www.flobikes.com/articles/14292456-tour-de-france-2025-stage-9-preview-one-more-for-the-sprinters