Home / Sports / Van der Poel sprints to Ussel victory!
Van der Poel sprints to Ussel victory!
12 Jul
Summary
- Mathieu van der Poel won Stage 9 in a tight sprint finish.
- Stage 9 was shortened due to extreme heat reaching 38 degrees Celsius.
- This was Van der Poel's second career Tour de France stage win.
Mathieu van der Poel celebrated his second Tour de France stage victory on Stage 9, held in Ussel. The Dutch rider masterfully executed a sprint in the final slightly uphill stretch, narrowly beating a group of three other cyclists. This win adds to his previous success in 2025.
The day's stage, spanning 155.5 km from Malemort to Ussel, was significantly shortened from its original length due to extreme heat. The region experienced temperatures around 38 degrees Celsius, prompting Météo France to issue a red alert. Despite the reduced distance, the route still featured a substantial elevation gain of approximately 3,000 meters.
Several riders from the main pack, including Tour favorites like Pogacar and Vingegaard, made efforts to close the gap to the breakaway group. However, a late surge from Van der Poel, Tom Pidcock, Tobias Johannessen, and Alex Baudin proved decisive. They managed to hold their narrow lead to the finish line, with the main pack finishing just six seconds behind.
Notably, this event marked the first time in the Tour de France's history that a stage was shortened specifically because of a heatwave. Following the demanding stage, riders are scheduled to have a rest day.
