"A lot of guys are very motivated for that ride, and I am one of them" - Mathieu van der Poel faces tough day as "90 percent" of peloton eye golden breakaway chance
Cycling
After two sprint stages in a row, the Tour de France is serving the peloton exactly what they ordered on Sunday's stage 9 - a breakaway feast for attackers to sink their teeth into after a few days of waiting for their chance.
The past two stages have been all about Tim Merlier and Soudal Quick-Step as the Belgian sprinter took emphatic wins on flat terrain. He won't be best suited to 2800 meters of climbing on a lumpy stage set to include four categorised climbs.
The last similar stage was contested by a massive breakaway on stage 4 as Lidl-Trek pulled off a teamwork masterclass, securing a win for Mads Pedersen that propelled him into the green jersey fight. With multiple riders suited to Sunday's terrain, they're sure to have a big say.
One of the most talked about favourites for the stage is Mathieu van der Poel. Although Alpecin - Premier Tech have endured disappointments in the sprints and the Dutchman struggling with his composure amid little opportunities, he has announced his interest on Sunday.
Van der Poel expects big breakaway battle
"Normally speaking, it suits me well. It will definitely be a tough stage with a big battle to be in the breakaway," Van der Poel told VTM NIEUWS before the stage.
The peloton will know that any move containing the Alpecin classics specialist is sure to be a winning ticket, meaning the fight to establish the breakaway could be a hotly contested battle. His teammate Rasmus Debruyne thinks the course suits him but doesn't expect an easy day at the office.
"It is going to be a very tough day," Debruyne said. "It will be difficult to get into the breakaway, and it remains difficult afterwards as well."
He said: It is a course that should suit him well." But would De Bruyne himself be chasing a breakaway with his teammate? He joked: "That would be the ideal scenario."
Stuyven sees opportunity for stage bid
But van der Poel isn't the only one to publicly state his intentions. Fellow classics rival Jasper Stuyven has been key in establishing Merlier's winning moves and hopes to have license to pursue his own Tour ambitions
"A great stage awaits tomorrow (Sunday) as well," Stuyven declared amongst the team's Tim Merlier celebrations.
"A lot of guys are very motivated for that ride, and I am one of them. It won't be easy, but everything starts with trying, and that is certainly what I'm going to do."
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Others fancy their chances
Tiesj Benoot announced before the stage that he wasn't on Paul Seixas patrol for the day, hoping to squeeze into a move: "I get to try, but I think three-quarters of the peloton want to get into the breakaway. We'll see."
Another is Maxim van Gils, who's recovering from a rocky start to La Grand Boucle: "Slip into the mix and fight for the stage? That would be nice. I felt good again over the past two days after a tougher start , but today is a stage that many riders can handle."
Lennart van Eetlvelt cut more of a realistic figure when it comes to a breakaway bid, claiming: "90 percent want to be in the breakaway today."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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