Tim Merlier Wins Tour de France Stage 9 Sprint Finish

Tim Merlier of Soudal Quick-Step claimed his second stage win of the 2025 Tour de France by narrowly defeating Jonathan Milan in a dramatic sprint finish on stage nine, which covered 174.1 kilometers from Chinon to Chateauroux. The stage was dominated early on by Mathieu van der Poel, who launched a bold long-range attack and led for most of the race before being caught in the final kilometer. Despite having to take a longer route around other riders during the sprint, Merlier's aerodynamic advantage and timely surge allowed him to edge out Milan at the line. Arnaud De Lie secured third place, marking his best Tour result so far. Merlier's victory made him the only rider this century to win in Châteauroux who is not Mark Cavendish, underscoring his growing prominence in the race. The stage highlighted the fierce competition and tactical depth of the Tour's sprint finishes.