PREVIEW | Tour de France 2025 stage 9 - Can crosswinds disrupt the average sprint stage?

Stage 9 of the Tour de France will be another day for the sprinters without a doubt, but this time around with quite a lot of wind to potentially disrupt the natural order of he sprinters. Can Jonathan Milan repeat his achievement of this Saturday however? We preview the stage ahead.

Stage 9 will take place between Chinon and the city of Chatearoux where the sprinters will have their final opportunity in the first week of the race. Again a relatively uneventful day when it comes to the selected route, but the riders won't mind having a calmer day.

The riders will cross the city during the final kilometers which may bring in some challenges in terms of road furniture, but map-wise the route is quite clear. With 2.2 and 1.5 kilometers to go there will be two 90-degree corners to stretch things out but the finishing straight is still long enough to regain positions ahead of what should be a pure bunch sprint.

Another very hot day, the peloton will have to deal with temperatures above the 30 degrees but this time around we've got tailwinds to inspire the breakaway hopefuls. There will be a meaningful breeze from the southwest which will come as a tail and cross-tailwind throughout most of the day. It also means there will be moments of tension in the peloton as splits are quite possible.

Jonathan Milan - Today was a stage finale where the riders had to cross the city before going on to the finishing area. Tomorrow will be the same, and this favours Lidl-Trek who have men, experience and quality on their side against Soudal - Quick-Step. I don't necessarily think Milan will be stronger than Merlier, but he may arrive to the sprint fresher and that can decide it.

Tim Merlier - The Belgian had an unlucky sprint today, having a mechanical at a bad time and never truly being able to regain position - which in an uphill sprint also means certain loss. Tomorrow is a new days, but his challenges will remain the same.

The truth is we can expect virtually the same tomorrow as we did today, it will be the same faces towards the front. I would exclude Tobias Lund Andresen, who will likely be working for Pavel Bittner taking into consideration the pan-flat finale this time around. I also wouldn't say Wout van Aert will take part in the sprint, although today (albeit in a fitting uphill sprint) he was a strong surprise and the only rider actually able to match Milan in the sprint. Kaden Groves will be a little above the rest, specially as it does seem he'll have a fully dedicated leadout including Mathieu van der Poel who is seemingly decided again not to chase the green jersey.

But we will have the same figures eyeing a result, including Biniam Girmay who has not had a good day today and lost a lot of ground in the fight for the green jersey. Soren Waerenskjold, Phil Bauhaus, Pascal Ackermann, Arnaud De Lie, Alberto Dainese, Paul Penhoët, Dylan Groenenewegen, Marijn van den Berg, Arnaud Démare and Bryan Coquard should all be there. Danny van Poppel could sprint for BORA if Jordi Meeus continues to struggle like today.

*** Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier
** Kaden Groves
* Wout van Aert, Biniam Girmay, Pavel Bittner, Soren Waerenskjold, Phil Bauhaus, Pascal Ackermann, Alberto Dainese, Arnaud de Lie, Dylan Groenewegen, Danny van Poppel, Jordi Meeus

Pick: Jonathan Milan

How: Now I think Merlier will be back in the mix with a better suited sprint but I think the leadout and pure power combo will take Milan to another victory in green.