Mathieu van der Poel claimed stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France on Sunday. He rode unaided after breaking away from the last big breakaway. The stage spanned for 202km from the Loire start, with the other end being the Saint-Amand-Montrond city.
Tom Pidcock finished in podium place in spite of a machine problem. A small stone wedged in his gears, locking the gears in the action.
Tadej Pogačar finished inside the leading bunch and complained about the warmth. The Tour hit its most stifling stretches on the harder climbs.
Meanwhile, cyclists dealt with side gusts across the rolling fields. Many groups attempted breaking the peloton before the hilltop finish.
At the line, locals roared the breakaway star in style. Officials noted limited disruption on the heavy stage. Meteorologists suggested rising temperatures ahead, as the race points eastward.
Team brains claimed the outcome tilts the leaderboard ahead of the punchy terrain. The yellow jersey defended his narrow buffer in the points race. Pidcock climbed several positions despite his ill fortune.
Ahead, the field tackles a rest day before the décisive alpine stretch.