Mathieu van der Poel displayed power and smarts on Stage 9, forcing a breakaway to stick by just six seconds on the rolling, sun-baked roads of Corrèze. On a 154.6-kilometer route from Malemort to Ussel that was adapted due to the extreme heatwave, the Alpecin-Premier Tech powerhouse was instrumental in forging the day’s decisive 16-man move before splitting the group on the second-category Suc au May. Despite relentless chasing from a UAE Team Emirates-XRG controlled bunch and late manpower from Netcompany INEOS, Van der Poel attacked the front group on the final ascent of Mont Bessou. He pulled away with Tom Pidcock, Tobias Johannessen, and Alex Baudin, creating a lethal four-man selection to contest the final 20 kilometers into Ussel.
As the reduced bunch bearing down on their heels threatened a complete neutralization, the four leaders collaborated smoothly until the final kilometer, where the Dutchman ruthlessly took control from the front. Van der Poel monitored his rivals from the pocket, holding off a desperate surge from Johannessen and Pidcock to power across the line for his third career Tour de France stage victory. Filippo Ganna led the main peloton home just six seconds later, confirming how narrowly the attackers managed to outrun the sprinters. The triumph preserves Alpecin-Premier Tech’s unblemished streak of capturing a stage in every single edition of the Tour since their 2021 debut. With Tadej Pogačar safely retaining the Maillot Jaune heading into Monday’s rest day, the peloton turns its focus toward a highly anticipated Bastille Day showdown in the high peaks of the Massif Central.
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