​USSEL, France (AP) — Mathieu van der Poel executed his move to perfection to capture victory on the hilly ninth stage of the Tour de France in a sprint finish, while defending champion Tadej Pogacar kept hold of the yellow jersey on Sunday. Van der Poel found himself in a foursome contesting the win, revving up with roughly 200 meters to go before fending off Norwegian Tobias Johannessen and Britain’s Tom Pidcock, then throwing his arms aloft as he crossed the line. The three were clocked at 3 hours, 27 minutes, and 51 seconds.
This marked the Dutchman’s third Tour stage win, adding to a storied career that includes multiple one-day classics triumphs and Cyclo-cross world titles. Van der Poel is also a former world road race champion, underscoring a lineage saturated with cycling pedigree. He is the grandson of Raymond Poulidor, the celebrated French cyclist who raced through the 1960s and ’70s, finishing second in the Tour on three occasions and third on five occasions. Known fondly by fans as “Poupou” and “The Eternal Runner-up,” Poulidor remains a beloved figure in France.
Pogacar, who has now won the Tour twice, finished six seconds behind Van der Poel in a compact chasing group that included two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard. Pogacar’s overall lead stands at 2 minutes and 42 seconds over Vingegaard, with Pogacar’s teammate Isaac del Toro at 3 minutes and 27 seconds back in third overall.
The 154.6-kilometer stage, stretching from Malemort to Ussel in central France, was shortened by about 30 kilometers due to extreme heat. Organizers cut the route after the local department was placed on red alert by meteorologists. The undulating terrain favored a rider with all-around capabilities, often referred to in cycling jargon as “baroudeurs” or scrappers, who can ride hard and adapt to varied conditions. An early breakaway of five included French veteran Julian Alaphilippe, a two-time world road race champion, but that group was soon reeled in.
Among the sport’s stalwarts who excel in the classics are Van der Poel and Filippo Ganna, both of whom showed the capacity to contribute in endurance efforts and powerful finishes. Van der Poel, Pidcock, and Ganna formed part of an eight-man breakaway with 80 kilometers to go, while Pogacar lurked behind, ready to strike if the opportunity presented itself. Although Pogacar did not need to chase the stage win—his focus remained on protecting the overall lead—the Slovenian is famed for his ability to launch attacks from almost any position, making him a constant threat even when a stage victory seems unlikely within reach of the breakaway.
Van der Poel’s decisive surge came with 25 kilometers remaining, shaving the group to four as Ganna was dropped from the front pack. His superior power carried him through to the finish, where he outpaced Johannessen and Pidcock in the final dash. The outcome underscored Van der Poel’s sprinting strength and endurance over a challenging course, and it added another chapter to an already illustrious season.
With two rest days ahead, Monday offers a pause before the Tour resumes on Tuesday with a demanding mountain stage that will test climbers and all-round riders alike. The race will culminate in Paris on July 26, continuing its tradition as one of cycling’s marquee events.