Tim Merlier triumphs among sprinters

Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier won the ninth stage of the Tour de France in a bunch sprint after Mathieu van der Poel was caught by the chasing peloton less than a kilometer from the finish following a long breakaway.

There were no significant changes in the overall standings, with three-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar retaining the race leader's yellow jersey.

Yesterday's stage headed to central France on a flat 158-kilometer section for the sprinters. But Mathieu van der Poel, a one-day classics specialist with a striking riding style, nearly thwarted their plans.

The Dutch cyclist put in a tremendous effort during a 173-kilometer breakaway at a speed of approximately 50 km/h, but couldn't make it to the finish and was caught less than a kilometer from the finish line.

Merlier won the sprint ahead of Jonathan Milan, Saturday's stage winner, with Arnaud De Lie completing the podium.

In the general classification, two-time Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel remained 54 seconds behind Pogacar in second place. Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin was third, one minute and 11 seconds behind, and two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard was 1 minute 17 seconds behind in fourth.

Earlier in the stage, João Almeida, a key teammate of Pogacar, abandoned the race.

Almeida, who fractured a rib during Stage 7, was dropped early and UAE Team Emirates-XRG later announced over race radio that the Portuguese rider had retired.

Almeida was involved in a high-speed crash earlier this week as the riders battled for position at the front, six kilometers from the finish line. Almeida escaped without a concussion, but his rib fracture proved too painful to continue in the three-week race.

Almeida finished fourth in the 2024 Tour de France and started this year's edition with strong results elsewhere, having won the Tour de Suisse, the Tour de Romandie, and the Itzulia Basque Country.— AP

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