As it happened: Breakaway holds off charging bunch on Tour de France stage 9 as former world champion wins in Ussel
2026-07-12T16:05:36.286Z
Thank you for joining Cyclingnews’ live coverage of stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France. Tomorrow, the riders will enjoy a rest day before stage 10, where the General Classification contest will come to life once more on a 166km stage to Le Lioran.
2026-07-12T15:58:44.711Z
Stage 9 top-10 results
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Place
Rider (Country) Team
Result
1
Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Premier Tech
03:27:51
2
Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
Row 1 – Cell 2
3
Tom Pidcock (GBr) Pinarello-Q36.5
Row 2 – Cell 2
4
Alex Baudin (Fra) EF Education-EasyPost
Row 3 – Cell 2
5
Filippo Ganna (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
00:00:06
6
Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek
Row 5 – Cell 2
7
Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco-AlUla
Row 6 – Cell 2
8
Nicolas Breuillard (Fra) Totalenergies
Row 7 – Cell 2
9
Jordan Jegat (Fra) Totalenergies
Row 8 – Cell 2
10
Sean Quinn (USA) EF Education-EasyPost
Row 9 – Cell 2
General classification after stage 9
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Place
Rider (Country) Team
Result
1
Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates-XRG
32:17:04
2
Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma-Lease a Bike
00:02:42
3
Isaac Del Toro (Mex) UAE Team Emirates-XRG
00:03:27
4
Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
00:03:30
5
Juan Ayuso (Spa) Lidl-Trek
00:03:34
6
Paul Seixas (Fra) Decathlon CMA CGM
00:03:55
7
Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
00:04:00
8
Lenny Martinez (Fra) Bahrain Victorious
00:04:21
9
Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Lidl-Trek
00:04:57
10
Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers
00:09:12
2026-07-12T15:45:56.190Z
Johannessen not disappointed with second
I hoped of course that they would let the break go as they did the last time and we were keen on trying to gain some minutes in the GC, but in the end it’s better to be there up front and fighting for the stage than to be in the peloton so I’m still happy that I did the did it in the breakaway… I’m still trying to find my legs and today was a bit better. Second place is the first loser but still better than anything else.
Tobias Halland Johannessen
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T15:41:12.720Z
Van der Poel handles the heat
It was for sure better than the first two days. I was really struggling and also had some difficulties to recover, even from the easier days. Already the past two days I felt a bit better. Of course, they were easier days, but today I finally had some legs to go for it.
Mathieu van der Poel
2026-07-12T15:37:55.513Z
It was a super hard day. The start of the Tour was not great for our team, but I think, like always, we stayed calm. We have a really nice group here and we kept believing that it will turn around. Maybe not today, maybe the second week, maybe the third week, but it’s really nice to go to the first rest day with a win.
Mathieu van der Poel
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T15:34:02.966Z
Imperious Van der Poel handles the tactics, and the heat, to perfection
There are many, many tactical questions to ask today of UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Lidl-Trek, but in the end this was a day that suited Mathieu van der Poel to the ground.
A day akin to the Cobbled Classics, with pressure asserted through the pedals with every revolution. The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider dealt with the conditions and managed the tactical conundrum of the day to perfection.
The key moment came when the Dutchman attacked on the final classified climb of the day, distancing the two Lidl-Trek riders from the breakaway to form a fighting four who worked together well and held off the bunch.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T15:28:44.387Z
Van der Poel beats his chest in celebration after an incredible breakaway effort. He trusted his sprint, leading the group for the entirety of the final kilometre.
Johannessen was second and Pidcock third ahead of Baudin.
Behind, Filippo Ganna took the sprint from the bunch ahead of Pedersen.
2026-07-12T15:27:12.420Z
Van der Poel wins
And the former world champion takes a remarkable stage win, holding off the Norwegian on the sprint to the line.
2026-07-12T15:26:15.084Z
Van der Poel launches the sprint with Johannessen on the wheel…
2026-07-12T15:25:44.235Z
Van der Poel remains on the front as the quartet head for a sprint for the stage win.
2026-07-12T15:25:17.450Z
1km to go
The gap is down to 20 seconds as the road begins to pitch up in front of the leaders. Van der Poel is posted on the front but he appears to be easing up on the run to the line
2026-07-12T15:23:44.613Z
2km to go
29 second gap. As long as the leaders keep rolling through, the stage is their’s.
2026-07-12T15:22:45.277Z
Each member of this leading quartet has been sensational today. They have kept riding even when the outlook appeared bleak.
Van der Poel has been worth his weight in gold, driving things on over these flat and slightly downhill sections.
And now Ion Izagirre appears on the front of the peloton. But surely this was too late. The Basque veteran needed to join the front five kilometres ago.
2026-07-12T15:20:39.194Z
5km to go
It’s just Verona and Vauquelin on the front of the chase group now. The gap is down to 40 seconds, but time is running out.
2026-07-12T15:19:22.346Z
Simmons is done as the road pitches up. It’s Gee-West now who is giving his last efforts. Foss has disappeared from the front too.
The resources of the chase are melting away in the heat on the road to Ussel.
2026-07-12T15:18:11.238Z
7km to go
The other team to consider here, a team that should perhaps be using its numbers in the group, is Cofidis. The small French outfit won’t have many chances in this Tour, but they have fast-finisher Alex Aranburu in the chase group alongside Ion Izagirre.
Right now, their chance for a rare stage victory is slipping away.
The gap remains at 45 seconds.
2026-07-12T15:15:43.296Z
10km to go
45 seconds is what separates the two groups. Another short rise is about to come for the riders before a final dip towards the uphill finish in Ussel.
2026-07-12T15:14:43.794Z
In the balance
This is looking like it could be very close between the break and the chasers.
The gap is coming down slowly, but there are still more resources to add from behind. The fast roads suit the likes of Simmons and Foss over the front group which is predominantly made up of climbers.
Perhaps Lidl-Trek adds Skjelmose to the pursuit, or Netcompany-Ineos coax Bernal into contributing. Another few pairs of fresh legs from behind could make the difference in this finale.
Right now, the breakaway has a slight advantage, but it’s in the balance.
2026-07-12T15:09:33.398Z
15km to go
Gee-West and Simmons, having been dropped from the break, are now on the front of the bunch and chasing.
They have 55 seconds of a gap to close alongside Foss and Vauquelin. Carlos Verona is now moving to the front for Lidl-Trek and will start chasing as the riders take on a short rise.
2026-07-12T15:06:35.270Z
Pidcock has made it back to Van der Poel, Baudin and Johannessen at the front. He still appears to have problems with his gearing, but he is there.
The gap to the chasing group is now 50 seconds. Gee-West and Simmons now have the brakes on and are set to add their weight to the chase.
2026-07-12T15:04:11.987Z
With Lidl-Trek out of the front group, it’s likely that the German team will begin to help Netcompany-Ineos at the front of the chase group, aiming to bring things back together for Pedersen.
Gee-West and Simmons will drop back from the break. Ayuso and Skjelmose are in the chasing group, but both sitting high on GC, may not want to contribute. Carlos Verona will add his legs to the chase.
2026-07-12T15:02:08.723Z
Pidcock mechanical
Just as the front group begins to work together on the descent, Tom Pidcock suffers a mechanical errors and is forced to drop out of the group. It’s a devastating moment for the British rider, who has looked among the strongest in the lead group so far today.
2026-07-12T14:59:50.669Z
Mont Bessou
A steep, short ascent here and Van der Poel gives an electrifying acceleration. The former world champion goes solo, pursued by Johannessen and Pidcock.
Crucially, the Lidl-Trek riders are dropped, meaning that there will be full commitment in this leading group once more.
Behind, Vauquelin joins Foss on the front in support of Ganna and Bernal, but Van der Poel’s acceleration has seen the gap grow once more towards a minute.
2026-07-12T14:57:27.635Z
25km to go
The gap is down to 30 seconds. Things are not looking good for the breakaway.
2026-07-12T14:57:02.623Z
Moving towards the final climb of the stage today, the gap has decreased to 40 seconds.
The collaboration up front is falling apart. There is a lot of looking around going on up front. The Lidl-Trek riders may now be thinking that their best chance of a win comes from Mads Pedersen in the group behind.
Castrillo gets back on the front and tries to reassert some pace as Van Eetvelt cuts a frustrated figure as he pulls through.
2026-07-12T14:53:59.758Z
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2026-07-12T14:48:36.986Z
Wellens, who has been working all day, is now collaborating with Foss to chase the front group, suggesting Pogačar could still be motivated for the stage. However, UAE still have the likes of McNulty and Yates who could add to the pursuit.
There is 10km left of this undulating section before a long descent. The longer this gap remains above a minute, the better the chances for the breakaway.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T14:44:18.190Z
Puzzling tactics
It’s been a more than chaotic day today, but the tactics on display are puzzling. UAE have pulled for two hours with Wellens and Großschartner, seemingly to set up the yellow jersey for a tilt at the stage win, but now, with the gap still bridge-able, they pull off the front.
They have made the day tough for everyone, weakening their rivals, which may be their only aim for the day, but it seems odd to lift the foot off the gas now, unless they are simply running out of resources.
Now Netcompany-Ineos comes to the front with just one rider and the gap is expanding. Daryl Impey, the team’s sports director, says through the radio that the team is chasing for Egan Bernal’s 10th place on General Classification.
2026-07-12T14:37:22.792Z
Netcompany-Ineos begin to chase
A change at the front of the chasing group. UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Wellens and Großschartner have pulled off the front and are replaced by Tobias Foss.
The Norwegian’s Netcompany-Ineos team-mate Filippo Ganna is still in the group, having been very active earlier in the day. Foss was in the original break before getting dropped. He will struggle to bring this group back by himself.
The front group is still working well together. The gap is at 1:18.
2026-07-12T14:34:28.276Z
On this descent, the gap has jumped another 20 seconds.
The road is about to drag up again for another twenty kilometres: another opportunity for the bunch to close in perhaps.
With no team-mates, Florian Lipowitz has gone back to the car for bottles and ice. He makes his way back to the front and hands a bottle to Remco Evenepoel.
2026-07-12T14:30:11.944Z
Riders suffer in the heat
The temperature is up to 34 degrees celsius at the finish in Ussel, but it’s hotter on other parts of the course today and in parts the road surface is melting under the tyres of the riders.
As a reminder, the parcours was shortened by 30km today due to red weather warnings in the region.
Riders are combatting the weather by pouring bottles of water over their heads. Tights filled with ice cubes are also stuffed down the back of the jersey.
Add this heat to the sever intensity of the day, and you can understand why the riders are suffering today. This may be one of the hardest days of the 2026 Tour de France.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T14:24:22.448Z
50km to go
Van der Poel is barrelling down this short descent, stretching the front group. The gap has climbed back over a minute.
2026-07-12T14:20:46.467Z
Over the top over the climb and the gap remains just under a minute.
Pidcock puts in a small acceleration at the top. He is keen to keep things rolling and is clearly in fine fettle today. Van Eetvelt won’t thank him. He was in the wheel and had to drop back, unable to go with the Brit.
The next 30km is endlessly undulating. Can this group finally create a gap that will dissuade UAE from their pursuit. It appears unlikely.
2026-07-12T14:12:03.654Z
Small sections of relief through this section as the trees give shade from this unrelenting sun.
Also unrelenting is UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Pogačar appears hungry for victory once more as the gap ebbs to 50 seconds. The yellow jersey still has five team-mates to call up in this group.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T14:07:24.488Z
60km to go
For the first time in about half an hour, the gap to the break has dipped under a minute. A huge amount of effort being invested by Wellens and Großschartner today.
It’s looking more and more as though Pogačar is coveting this stage today. He will need to drop Mads Pedersen first.
2026-07-12T14:05:44.656Z
Côte de la Croix du Pey
Onto the penultimate classified ascent of today’s stage and the leaders have just over a minute.
With the gap to the front coming down, this is the key point of the race which will descide with the break or the bunch wins – or if a new attack forms.
Riders may seek to bridge across to the front of the race here, or the front group could see their advantage expand.
The riders have 4.8km to negotiate at an average of 5.7%.
Meanwhile, Lenny Martinez, sitting 8th overall, has a mechanical problem and is chasing back.
2026-07-12T13:58:34.673Z
Lidl-Trek in charge
Without a doubt, Lidl-Trek are the team of the day so far. They started off taking maximum points at the intermediate sprint with Pedersen. They have Simmons and Gee-West in this front group too, as Pedersen sits in the chasing pack alongside Skjelmose and Ayuso.
They can win the stage from the break or the bunch.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T13:55:25.896Z
70km to go
The leading eight now has 80 seconds over Pogačar’s group. The rest of the original breakaway has been caught by the UAE Team Emirates-XRG train now.
There is some serious firepower in this front group, and a number of different rider-types too. Van der Poel will be happy sprinting against this group, while the likes of Baudin, Castrillo and Gee-West will need to attack from far out. Pidcock, Van Eetvelt and Johannessen can use their punch on these steep climbs. While Simmons is a canny racer who will sniff out opportunities to make a difference.
2026-07-12T13:47:09.944Z
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2026-07-12T13:46:37.481Z
Breakaway or bunch?
UAE Team Emirates-XRG are not letting this gap go out. Are they trying to set up Pogačar for another stage win?
It seems a slightly odd strategy, given the searing heat that the riders are enduring. The Emirati team are working domestiques Wellens and Großschartner hard. Will they suffer as a result over the coming two weeks?
If we know anything about Pogačar, it’s that he is always hungry for wins. If he sees an opportunity, he will seize on it. The uphill sprint into Ussel suits him very well.
It’s possible that UAE relents over the next hour, letting the break out of their clutches, but it’s not guaranteed.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T13:41:11.379Z
These front groups have now all come together, making a strong lead group of eight. It’s a perfect size for collaboration.
Going over the top of the Suc a May, the leaders have just over a minute.
2026-07-12T13:38:58.814Z
You are the strongest rider in this group
Alex Sans Vega, Pinarello-Q36.5 Sports Director
Some encouragement for Pidcock from the Pinarello-Q36.5 car.
This is a key moment in the race, as Johannessen and Simmons looked to be getting away. Pidcock is using the sections that suit him best and he can now see the leading pair just ahead of him.
Bridging over to the Pidcock group now is Van der Poel, along with Castrillo and Baudin.
2026-07-12T13:35:26.779Z
Suc au May
Onto the second classified climb of the day, which seems unfair given the amount of climbing already tackled by the riders.
The leaders are now over a minute ahead of Pogačar’s group, but the intermediary group is losing significant time.
Pidcock has attacked from the chasing pack, hoping not to see the stage slip out of his fingers. Gee-West and Van Eetvelt are sitting on the Pinarello-Q36.5 rider’s wheel.
He is making inroads on the steep sections.
2026-07-12T13:28:38.964Z
Simmons and Halland Johannessen lead
Simmons and Halland Johannessen have chipped off the front of the breakaway, which looks to be struggling to collaborate well.
The leaders now have 50 seconds over the yellow jersey, with the group 20 seconds behind in between.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T13:24:31.536Z
Pidcock at the front
Pidcock cruises over to the front group.
Now there are 16 riders up ahead. The best placed on GC is Tobias Halland Johannessen, who is sitting 13th, 9:42 down. Pidcock is 15th at 9:50. Other big names include Jegat, Van Eetvelt, Van der Poel and Gee-West.
The leaders have 20 seconds on the bunch.
2026-07-12T13:21:34.815Z
Tim Wellens and Felix Großschartner are now posted on the front of the bunch setting tempo.
But just as things look to settle, Tom Pidcock attacks. He has a small gap on the group of Pogačar. It’s going to be tough for the Brit to make it all the way across to the front.
2026-07-12T13:19:16.870Z
A group breaks clear
Things change once again at the front.
Derek Gee-West instigates another move and around ten others have gone with him including Van der Poel and Simmons. They have around 20 seconds on the chasing group, being led by Adam Yates. This is the biggest lead any break has built since the opening stages.
Lennart van Eetvelt is up there as is Jordan Jegat. They are a touch under 11 minutes down on GC.
Finally, UAE Team Emirates-XRG look happy to see things settle down, but will anyone else look to chase this one down having missed it?
2026-07-12T13:11:24.022Z
Another move goes up the road, led by two Americans, Matteo Jorgenson and Quinn Simmons. 2020 Olympic champion Richard Carapaz is there too as is Einer Rubio as more attempt to bridge.
Remarkably, Mads Pedersen is still latched onto the back of this ever-more select group.
2026-07-12T13:09:23.243Z
100km to go
Van der Poel and Carapaz join Ganna up ahead, but the peloton makes contact with the front, with Pogačar not far from the head.
Bruno Amirail and Michal Kwiatkowski are among the latest dropped from the peloton.
Mathias Vacek, sitting 10th overall coming into the stage, is also distanced.
2026-07-12T13:07:12.303Z
When will the breakaway establish?
This is a classic Tour de France breakaway day. There is absolutely no let up.
The quantity of teams wanting to get up the road is strangling the race’s progress. Every move that goes away will be without a team that wants to be in it, meaning that there is always someone motivated to chase.
At some point, the elastic will snap, but when that point is, no one knows. As the legs tire over the coming sections, more opportunities will come.
And the longer this goes on, the stronger a rider has to be to get into the move, which is why we are seeing such decorated riders towards the front.
The latest move is fronted once more by Filippo Ganna, who looks in good form today.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T13:03:47.373Z
Daan Hoole is done, so that’s one rider fewer for Paul Seixas to depend on.
Vauquelin and Jorgenson have been brought back now. More riders are trying to get up the road now.
2026-07-12T12:59:20.636Z
Valentin Paret-Peintre takes over and takes the points over the top. Now splits off the front, but dozens of riders are off the back now. The front group is down to around 70 riders.
Vauquelin attacks with Matteo Jorgenson over the top. Carapaz pursuing.
The have a couple more kilometres of plateau before a short descent. Then it’s a long drag leading into a second category ascent.
2026-07-12T12:55:44.237Z
Côte de Naves
Onto the first climb of the day now and it’s Pinarello-Q36.5 taking it up at the front.
Pidcock takes over in an attempt to split things up. He’s not going all-in, he’s just trying to take a few riders with him.
2026-07-12T12:48:51.971Z
‘A good opportunity’ today for Matej Mohorič
The start looks pretty promising to allow a strong breakaway, and the last 30 kilometres are pretty straightforward. I’m not sure, once we are in that breakaway, it’s going to be pretty challenging to get away and challenge for the win. It might be more likely to come down to a sprint of the breakaway, and that is uphill for the last 300 metres, so it’s not one of my strong points, but I think it’s still a good opportunity.
Matej Mohorič
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T12:43:09.747Z
Alaphilippe attacking
This is a twisting descent, perfect for Alaphilippe to take advantage, which is exactly what he is trying to do alongside Austrian team-mate Marco Haller.
Riders from Netcompany-Ineos and Movistar are attempting to bridge up to the front duo.
2026-07-12T12:40:24.963Z
First job ticked-off for Lidl-Trek today, securing maximum points in the intermediate sprint after 13.9km.
Next, the team are looking to get into the crucial breakaway, perhaps even with Pedersen, to contest for the stage.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T12:38:14.749Z
And once again, that group has been neutralised. The next proper opportunity for a breakaway could come on the Côte de Naves, the first categorised climb of the day.
Meanwhile, it could be worth keeping an eye on stage 7 and 8 winner Tim Merlier, who is now more than two minutes off the back in a small group. With the heat bearing down on the riders, it could be a long day for those struggling today.
2026-07-12T12:33:39.924Z
A significant split off the front now, which looks much more promising for a moment, but again more riders are looking to get across.
Around 40 riders are dangling off the front. Surely this group is too large for UAE Team Emirates-XRG to be happy with it.
2026-07-12T12:31:20.875Z
130km to go
A small move going away now including Julian Alaphilippe. Kirsch is on the move again, as is Engelhardt. They are on a tight leash for the moment, having turned onto this fast descent.
Almost every team wants to have a rider up the road today, so there are plenty of motivated chasers at the moment.
2026-07-12T12:26:55.377Z
The riders are still on an unclassified climb which carried them through the intermediate sprint. Soon the road will dip towards the first classified climb of the day.
More attacks all the time, but nothing sticking just yet. Fred Wright is the man on the front of the bunch now.
2026-07-12T12:24:29.343Z
Green jersey standings
With the peloton back together, here’s a quick update on the green jersey after that sprint.
Pedersen extended his lead, he is now on 253 points. Girmay is now back in second place on 223. Merlier remains on 213 and slips to third ahead of Philipsen, now on 191.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T12:21:15.235Z
There are already several big hitters on the move. Filippo Ganna and Mathieu van der Poel are in a counter move now alongside German champion Felix Engelhardt and a few others.
Behind, Merlier looks in some difficulty in this heat. He’s already a minute behind the bunch with the toughest tests to come.
2026-07-12T12:19:21.133Z
Pedersen wins the sprint
A comfortable win for the green jersey in Beynat. Pedersen takes 25 points ahead of Girmay with Philipsen in third.
And straight away as the riders come through the sprint point, the attacks begin. Maxim van Gils is the first to go, followed by Chris Harper and Kévin Vauquelin. Richard Carapaz is part of a group latching on.
The breakaway action begins now. How long until the final move goes away?
2026-07-12T12:16:58.814Z
It’s Vacek to do the final lead out for Pedersen as Merlier is dropped from the peloton along with a dozen others.
2026-07-12T12:15:49.306Z
The unseen battle here is the riders positioning themselves to attack after the sprint, a perfect point to make a move for the breakaway. Healey is up there, so is Van der Poel.
1km to go.
2026-07-12T12:14:43.358Z
2km to go to the sprint now and Lidl-Trek are going all in with four riders on the front.
Girmay has been brought up to the wheel of Pedersen by his NSN team-mates now and Philipsen is well positioned too. It’s a tough drag to the sprint, this. Derek Gee-West is on the front making this as hard as possible.
2026-07-12T12:10:54.889Z
Crash for Michael Storer
Just a small coming down for Australian Michael Storer of Tudor towards the back of the bunch. He’s OK and chasing back to the bunch.
The break has been caught now and Lidl-Trek are leading the bunch into the sprint in Beynat.
The road drags up towards the line, which should suit Pedersen and also Girmay.
2026-07-12T12:08:05.044Z
Girmay, Philipsen and Merlier are stalking the rear wheels of Lidl-Trek. There is now less than 10 seconds between the bunch and the front of the race as Kirsch attacks alone.
2026-07-12T12:06:05.705Z
Sam Bewley’s voice crackles over the radio from the NSN Cycling car to instruct his team to allow Lidl-Trek to take on the responsibility for the early pacing.
Quinn Simmons is on the front now and the gap is coming down quickly. The bunch is stretching out under the influence of the USA national champion. There’s 8km until the sprint as the front three becomes a front five.
2026-07-12T12:03:40.316Z
Stefano Oldani is up there with Kirsch and Hermans in a move 17 seconds ahead of the bunch with 10km to go until the sprint point. Georg Steinhauser from EF Education First-EasyPost is trying to get across alongside Ewen Costiou.
Lidl-Trek have moved almost their entire squad to the front of the bunch. They are just controlling things for the moment instead of burning matches to bring this back straight away.
2026-07-12T12:00:27.923Z
Breakaway attempts
Quinten Hermans and Alex Kirsch are among the first to launch attacks, but Toms Skujins is on the front of the bunch to keep things together for Mads Pedersen.
2026-07-12T11:58:43.376Z
155.9km to go
Racing is underway on stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France.
There are some notable names already towards the front, hunting either the break or the intermediate sprint. Lidl-Trek have numbers to control things for Mads Pedersen.
2026-07-12T11:56:28.458Z
It shouldn’t be a day for these two today, but Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard will need to remain vigilant throughout.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T11:52:27.974Z
Tom Pidcock was in good form at the start today, popping a wheelie on the way to the stage.
He sits 15th overall coming into the stage today, 9:50 down. Might he be allowed to escape up the road today? Or will he be viewed as too much of a threat, if not to Pogačar, to the other overall contenders?
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T11:45:55.746Z
Neutral start
The riders are setting off for the ninth stage of this year’s Tour de France.
There will be about fifteen minutes behind the race director’s car before the racing gets underway proper.
2026-07-12T11:44:29.754Z
Ice vest to protect from the blazing heat, and a face mask to protect against infection for the Tour’s youngest rider Paul Seixas before the start in Malemort.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T11:36:28.557Z
Early green jersey battle
Whatever happens today we are in for some action from the very beginning of the stage, with the intermediate sprint coming after just 13.9km in Beynat.
The competition for the points classification heated up yesterday, as several riders closed-in on leader Mads Pedersen, with the Lidl-Trek man finishing down in 12th place in the sprint.
Pulling in 70 points win his second win in as many days, Tim Merlier vaulted up to second place in the competition ahead of 2024 winner Biniam Girmay and Jasper Philipsen. Merlier batted away suggestions that he might now target the competition, due to the climbing prowess of his rivals in comparison to himself, allowing them to contest more finishes than him.
Just 56 points split the top-5 in the classification after eight stages. The overall classification may already be void of competition, but the fight for the green jersey is just hotting up. It’s possible that there could be a new leader after today.
Here’s the standings ahead of today’s stage:
1. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), 228 points
2. Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep), 213 points
3. Biniam Girmay (NSN), 203 points
4. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), 175 points
5. Max Kanter (XDS-Astana), 172 points
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T11:26:38.862Z
Contenders for the stage
Stage 9 is due to get going in around 20 minutes for the neutral roll out, and its a safe bet that today’s battle to get in the breakaway will be a fierce one. Chances to win stages at the Tour this year are few for most teams, but this stage is one that many teams will have highlighted.
And what of race leader Tadej Pogačar? Is this an opportunity to give away the burden of carrying the yellow jersey for a couple of days? Perhaps he and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG team will be happy to let a big break go up the road to hand the maillot jaune over to a rider who will not be able to hold onto it. It would give the team’s domestiques a bit of relief from pulling the bunch around in this relentless heat.
There are really only two likely candidates for this; Mathias Vacek, who sits in 10th overall 7:10 behind the race leader, and Sean Quinn, in 12th place 9:35 down.
Other breakaway favourites today include the likes of Mathieu van der Poel, Romain Grégoire and Michael Valgren, who won a similar stage at the Giro d’Italia in May.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T11:16:56.027Z
Stage shortened due to red weather warning
As the riders were climbing onto the team buses at the end of yesterday’s sprint stage into Bergerac, news came through of an alteration to the route of today’s stage 9.
The Corrèze department issued a red alert for heat, with forecasts suggesting that the temperature gauges could top 40 degrees Celsius this afternoon in the Massif Central.
The first section of the route has been altered, knocking exactly 30km off the stage distance and delaying the start slightly.
The heat has been a constant theme throughout the race so far this year, and it looks as though this will continue. Whether this modification makes an important difference to the safety of the riders is up for debate as the race will still take place during the hottest part of the day.
Stage 9 of Tour de France shortened amid ‘red alert’ heatwave warning in central France
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-07-12T11:08:36.677Z
Today’s route
Today this year’s Tour makes its one and only jaunt into the Massif Central region, which is famed for explosive breakaway stages due to its undulating topography.
There are four categorised climbs for the riders to deal with on a route that has been shortened due to dangerous heat (more on that in a moment). It’s too hard for the sprinters and too easy for a serious general classification day – that usually equals a breakaway win.
Here is the break-down of the climbs:
– Côte de Naves (cat. 3, 2.3km at 7.4%)
– Suc au May (cat. 2, 3.8km at 7.7%)
– Côte de la Croix du Pey (cat. 3, 4.8km at 6%)
– Mont Bessou (cat. 4, 900m at 7.3%)
Tour de France 2026 stage 9 preview – Shortened by 30km but four climbs remain on breakaway-friendly route to Ussel
(Image credit: A.S.O)
2026-07-12T11:00:38.883Z
Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France.
