Stage nine report
Right, and on these bombshells, that’s us done on an immense day of racing (and a pretty immense day of sport in general), which had all manner of narratives. The principal ones being Tadej Pogacar laying down the gauntlet to Jonas Vingegaard, who might just be relieved that his rival took only eight seconds off him at the end. And then there was heartache for Matteo Jorgenson who rode so boldly and so well before the superior climbing smarts of Michael Woods landed him a memorable stage win.
Jeremy Whittle’s stage report will be up very shortly. Thanks for your company and comments. Bye.
GC standings, top 10
1. Jonas Vingegaard
2. Tadej Pogacar +17
3. Jai Hindley +2:40
4. Carlos Rodriguez +4:22
5. Adam Yates +4:39
6. Simon Yates +4:44
7. Thomas Pidcock +5:26
8. David Gaudu +6:01
9. Sepp Kuss +6:45
10. Pello Bilbao +7:37
Michael Woods speaks: “I’m still having to pinch myself moment,” says the stage winner. “I can’t believe I did it – I’m proud of myself and my team. [The crowd] was deafening until I got to 4km to go and my ears were still ringing and I had a lot of time to think and suffer.
I’m not getting any younger and I’ve finally achieved it [a Tour de France stage win] and I feel so fortunate to have so many great people behind me – my family, my team, my wife, my kids.
I wish I could tell you it was all planned – I wanted to be with Jorgenson out front but I didn’t play my cards super-right but I had to be patient but with 40 to go I didn’t think of going for the win, but just set a time trial for myself. It’s super special to win at the Puy de Dome and I hope we get to come here in years to come.” It certainly was quite the setting for a stage finish.
Those stage nine results in full
1. Michael Woods
2. Pierre Latour +28
3. Matej Mohoric +35
4. Mateo Jorgenson +35
5. Clement Berthet +55
6. Nielson Powless +1:23
7. Alexey Lutsenko +1:39
8. Jonas Gregaard +1:58
9. Mathieu Burgaudeau +2:16
10. David de la Cruz +2:34
Jorgenson speaks and reveals he had no radio assistance at the denouement. “I had to play my hand a bit early. I knew I wouldn’t be able to match Woods and Neilsen [Powless] in the climb and I had to get away in a small group or go solo> In the end I had to hope others blew up because it wasn’t quite enough. Radio didn’t work on the climb so the only time gap I had was the motor and I was being told [my lead was] a minute, then 35 seconds and 35 was the last I iheard and before I knew it Mike was there and passing me and there was absolutely nothing I could do.”
Pogacar pips Vingegaard by eight seconds
Vingegaard responds as they turn through the 14 degree gradient to the summit but Pogacar stays in front, and crosses just over eight seconds ahead of his rival. He’s made some ground but not as much as seemed likely a minute or so earlier. What an epic afternoon’s racing.
Vingegaard retains the yellow jersey.
Updated
Pogacar is powering ahead of his great rival now, around 11 seconds as they approach the summit …
I say that but now Pogacar kicks clear with Vingegaard on his wheel but Pogacar gets some distance on him. The defending champion stays within reach though
Now back in the peloton, we’ve got Tom Pidcock is well placed but Jai Hindley beginning to assert himself. Nothing decisive from or around Pogacar or Vingegaard.
Updated
Stage 9 top 5
1 Michael Woods
2. Pierre Latour
3. Matej Mohoric
4. Matteo Jorgenson
5. Clément Berthet
Pierre La Tour overhauls Jorgenson too at the last, so does Mohoric. Ah poor Matteo.
Michael Woods wins stage nine of the Tour de France!
A perfectly executed climb from the Canadian. He’s the king of the Puy de Dome.
Woods is looking so menacing and fluent and he hits the front. Jorgenson can’t respond!
1km to go: Woods gets clear of Mohoric – this is a dramatic late rally – and he’s targeting a toiling Jorgenson. It’s only 23 seconds!
1.5km to go: The gap’s dropping dramatically from Jorgenson to Mohoric as the lead group power upwards by the railway line. UAE Team Emirates step it up in the peloton but Kelderman, I think, is fronting the pack there. Vingegaard gets into position behind him
Jorgenson leads by less than 40 seconds. Is he fading? Is Woods the man to watch?
Updated
2.5km to go: Mohoric decides to go for it, as Powless starts to struggle in the initial pursuers’ group. Jorgenson lead him by 57 seconds. Michael Woods, meanwhile, has broken clear of the main pursuit group and overhauled Powless. He was favourite to win the stage – what can he pull off here? It’s getting tense.
Updated
4km to go: Suddenly, we have no crowds to yell Jorgenson home as he nudges his lead up to 1:19. It’s a behind-closed-doors race, if you will. Further back Dylan van Baarle, Wout van Aert and Wilco Kelderman are all on the front of the peloton. Vingegaard still in the pack. But UAE Team Emirates are beginning to stir, though Pogacar looks pretty knackered.
Elsewhere …
🥵As @MatteoJorg holds on, the peloton loses some riders. Both @skjelmose_ and @giuliocicco1 have lost contact.
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2023
🥵Alors que @MatteoJorg s'accroche, le peloton perd des coureurs. @skjelmose_ et @giuliocicco1 ont tous deux perdu le contact. #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/E3veNB3SRo
Updated
5km to go: Jorgenson is getting stronger – who says he didn’t fancy his climbing abilities? – and is beginning to look, whisper it, unassailable. He’s 1:14 ahead, the three pursuers in their turn are another minute in front of the main pursuers. The peloton is 14 minutes back.
6.5km to go: Romain Bardet’s DSM-Firmenich team, UAE Emirates and Jumbo-Visma are beginning to properly duke it out in the peloton and the GC battle, though Vingegaard is sitting back behind his Jumbo-Visma teammates. This is only going to get spicier as the climb steepens and the roads narrow with clamouring crowds.
Jorgenson powers on alone at the front, 1minute 10 seconds ahead.
Updated
9km to go: There are of course no crowds permitted at the summit, from 4km out to be precise, but there’s plenty just before then, and it’s getting properly raucous as the frontrunners climb. Powless is seeking to escape the principal pursuers. They’re still on his wheel though. Jorgenson leads by around a minute. What an achievement this will be by the 24-year-old American if he can hang on for the stage win here.
Jumbo-Visma still front a crowded peloton, 15 minutes back.
11km to go: Jorgenson manages to extend his lead in the foothills of the climb, nudging it over a minute for a good while before it dips back below it. The three principal chasers are working well together, and they include the runaway KOTM leader Powless. The peloton, precariously bunched up, is 16 minutes back, and we’ll have their climactic fun and games to enjoy soon too – which could have huge significance for the GC. And in front of them, a motorcyclist crashes to add to the challenge. Hope all are OK there.
Watching the frontrunners ascend is making my legs ache, let alone theirs. And it’ll only get tougher.
13km to go: Jorgenson is cruising currently, taking the bends with aplomb. Letsenko has rejoined the poursuivants but out front Jorgenson has set an exacting task for the experienced climbers behind him. The gap is 57 seconds as I type this between the American and the chasing group of Powless, Burgaudeau and Mohoric. We’re beginning to climb, and with a headwind
Updated
18km to go: Some back wheel chain bother pegs De La Cruz back, and he has to pull aside and replace his bike, costing him serious time at a crucial stage. He might struggle to rejoin them now. Jorgenson powers ahead by more than 35 seconds.
Back in the peloton, Lars Van dern Berg crashes – the speed is taking its toll – but he’s the only rider down. It could have been more.
Updated
28km to go: It’s fascinating watching the four main pursuers, with Powless – what a Tour he’s having – on the attack, Mahoric pushing strongly, and 19 seconds up the road Jorgenson continues to look composed. There’s about 17km of these undulating roads to come before climbing in earnest starts. The main pursuers are more than a minute back now.
33km to go: Weariness and mistakes creeping in as we near the climax, and a pursuing group of four – Burgaudeau, Mohoric, De La Cruz and Powless – develops behind Jorgenson, who’s 18 seconds or so in front. Woods is suddenly isolated and in a tough spot, with the original chasing group now with it all to do. The peloton is 14 minutes back now with the race segmented into four groups.
37km to go: Jorgenson rips further ahead to stretch his lead to 36 seconds as he seeks to get some distance established before the gruelling climactic climb starts. He has his teammate Izagirre back in the pursuing group who may be of assistance further up the road. Mahoric, Campenaerts and Woods also looking lively among the pursuers, from whom Boivin has been dropped.
Updated
43km to go: Boivin, who started all these fun and games a while back, is now toiling and separated from the front group. At the front of that break group though, Jorgenson sprints out alone. He has a gap of around 20 seconds on his pursuers. No one joins him though, which might not be his ideal scenario, others sparing themselves for the climb.
The peloton is now more than 13 minutes back. Two races beckon, at least.
48km to go: Jorgenson, Woods, Lutsenko, Gregaard and Burgaudeau (two of whom have suffered mishaps earlier in the form of a puncture and a wasp sting) lead a break from the front. They don’t have much on their pursuers though and they regroup. But they’re restless, and Mohoric looks keen to go again. So when will this fragmentation come? Campenaerts is currently at the front.
In other news – it’s on!
Another KOTM point for Powless
54km to go: Campenaertsand Mohoric launch what seems to be a coordinated attack, before Powless is ushered through for another two polka dot points. Campenaerts takes the other one. But a bit of cat and mouse emerging now among the lead group.
57km to go: Boivin is reeled in as a climb gets steeper. This could string out the break group, and maybe dump a few. But climbers of the calibre of De La Cruz are towards the back of the group so don’t count on it. One result of all that is the peloton is more than 12 minutes behind now. Cats are at least being put among pigeons. Powless currently leads the break group, anticipating adding to his points tally shortly.
59km to go: Israel-Premier Tech’s Guillaume Boivin launches an attack from the front group, opening up a 15-second gap as we prepare for the next, category three, climn, the Cote de Pontaumur. Quite an early move, given what lies ahead. Too early? We shall see.
Updated
65km to go: It’s just been pointed out on TV comms that Jorgenson holds the climber record on the Puy de Dome. He may have come off second best against that wasp but he’s in the break group and knows the terrain. Today’s winner?
The peloton’s now as far back as it’s been today, at more than 11 and a half minutes.
70km to go: Poor old Matteo Jorgenson has jut copped a wasp sting, and has had to have antihistamines administered by his team car. The sort of thing that would make the rest of us take a breather. On he ploughs though. Having talked up the peloton narrowing the gap, it’s only gone and risen back up to more than 11 minutes. The next climb, the category 3 Côte de Pontaumur, is about 20km away.
Gregaard has rejoined the breakaway group. For latecomers that big 14-strong group comprises the following: Clément Berthet (AG2R-Citroën), Michael Woods and Guillaume Boivin (Israel-Premier Tech), Matteo Jorgenson and Gorka Izagirre (Movistar), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious), Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Pierre Latour and Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies), David De La Cruz and Alexey Lutsenko (Astana), Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny), Jonas Abrahamsen and Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X)
Updated
77km to go: Jonas Gregaard, part of the lead group, needs a back wheel change. Team cars are whizzing past him and he’ll have a job on to get back to the breakaway, though he now has his own Uno X Pro team car to assist him.
80km to go: Some stats behind the recent slight closing of the gap from lead group to peloton:
Average speeds on the final 2 ascents show that the peloton has picked up the pace behind the early attackers 💨#TDFdata #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/UyHWnhMHfK
— letourdata (@letourdata) July 9, 2023
I’d be lying to you if I said a lot of English and Australian eyeballs weren’t currently trained on this stress-generating feast:
86km to go: A bit of Eurosport focus on local lad Romain Bardet, who can see today’s summit “from his kitchen window”. He’s in the pack though, hunting GC points, rather than the stage win. That pack has clawed a bit of time back though, with the gap back down to around 10:10. The lead group, fronted by Lutsenko currently, are beyond halfway now.
Powless takes another KOTM point
95km to go: The wind’s picking up as they climb, gap to peloton resolutely around the 10:40 mark, as the impressive Powless zips clear unchallenged to take another polka-dot point. He’s 10 points clear in those standings.
“On the Cav question,” writes Andrew Benton, “certainly he should have another go next year if he’s in the mood. He’s still got ‘it’ - only denied a likely victory by a chain mishap a few days ago. As long as his passion to win is there, I hope he’ll keep competing.”
Yeah there’s echoes here with two other body-battered ultra-competitive sportspeople in the spotlight this weekend, Ben Stokes and Andy Murray. Cavendish is in their category, mentality-wise, I think. But it’s his call.
Updated
102km to go: We’ve got another climb coming in short order, the category three, 303m Côte de Pontcharraud. The peloton, fronted by Jumbo-Visma is now 10:40 behind.
Powless takes KOTM point
Neilson Powless is ushered through harmoniously at the top to take the point. He’s now nine points clear of Felix Gall in the KOTM standings.
Updated
108km to go: We’re climbing the Cote de Felletin now, a category four climb (well I say “we’re” I mean “they’re”, I’m just living this lovely scenery vicariously from a desk in London). The gap stretches to 10:15 from breakaway to pack. One point available in the intermediate. All small beer compared to the finish.
110km to go: Thanks Michael. Afternoon everyone. So it’s looking like races within races today, with that volcanic ending looming. And the general vibe is the big 14-strong breakaway group, at around 10 minutes ahead of the peloton, won’t be caught:
With a strong group up front and a gap of almost 10 minutes, the #NTTpredictor gives the breakaway a 75% chance of resisting the bunch all t he way to Puy de Dôme ⛰️
— letourdata (@letourdata) July 9, 2023
Among the attackers, here are the 3 main favourites to win the stage 👇#TDFdata #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/cIduMy0310
120km to go: The gap remains just under the 10 minute mark. Going to hand over now to Tom Davies, who will guide you through the rest of today’s stage. Enjoy!
125km to go: The breakaway lead is now hovering around the 10 minute mark, the biggest lead of this year’s Tour. Increasingly looking like we’ll effectively have two races today: the breakaway and the peloton.
Indeed, today’s stage is all about the finish, at the mythical Puy de Dôme.
This is a nice little vid which explains the rest of the stage …
"This day is all about the mythical Puy de Dôme"@antmccrossan - the voice of @LeTour - sets the stage for a special day on legendary roads ⛰️#TDFdata #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/gG4Y0CPMgV
— letourdata (@letourdata) July 9, 2023
… and (if you haven’t already) give William Fotheringham’s read a go on today’s finish. It’s a corker.
130km to go: Lilian Calmejane is fuming, and who can blame him? A fan’s bunting, hung above the road, falls onto the peloton at the worst moment and entangles the Frenchman, who falls heavily on the edge of the peloton. The fan removes his bunting from the road and gets an earful for his trouble, as Calmejane gets to his feet and rips the bunting off his bike. Wounded, but not out, Calmejane, hurtles back up the road to rejoin the peloton, shaking his head. That could have been a lot worse! Imagine if that had been a GC rider!
"How on earth has that happened?" 😳
— Eurosport (@eurosport) July 9, 2023
Lilian Calmejane was not happy after a spectator dropped these jerseys on the road 😠#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/F6dW1ZkJcy
Updated
140km to go: It’s quite surprising to see the breakaway now at nearly nine minutes, which is really unusual these days. This shouldn’t have a meaningful effect on GC riders, with Clément Berthet the closest to our overall race leader, Jonas Vingegaard, started the day about half an hour behind the Maillot Jaune. So nothing to worry about just yet, although it will be interesting to see if the gap to the peloton surpasses 10-15 minutes.
147km to go: Jasper Philipsen, riding in the peloton, takes the last available point to extend his lead in the green jersey race. He’s currently on 259 points, well over 100 points clear of his nearest challenger, Bryan Coquard. What a Tour Philipsen is having, with three stage wins already under his belt.
152km to go: Wow, the peloton has really slipped. Now nearly four minutes off the pace.
Jonas Abrahamsen, in the breakaway, wins the intermediate sprint and takes the 20 points at the Lac de Vassivière. The Norwegian made a dash with 200 metres to go, and nobody made much of an effort to compete with him.
Updated
155km to go: Mattias Skjelmose and Alberto Bettiol are the next to attack but again, it comes to nothing. A tailwind today means the advantage of being in the peloton is nullified somewhat. This is a really dangerous breakaway, who have a real chance of making it all the way to the finish.
Here is a complete list of the 14 riders up the front. None of the GC riders are there but some excellent talent is there, chasing the stage win, namely Michael Woods.
🏁 162 km
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2023
Break established for the day
1️⃣4️⃣ 🚴 < 1'05'' < 🚴🚴🚴🚗
🇫🇷 @clem_berthet
🇨🇦 @rusty_woods
🇪🇸 Gorka Izagirre
🇫🇷 @mat_burgaudeau
🇪🇸 @iamdlax
🇺🇸 @NPowless
🇺🇸 @MatteoJorg
🇧🇪 @VCampenaerts
🇩🇰 @jonasgregaard
🇰🇿 @AlexeyLutsenko3
🇸🇮 @matmohoric
🇳🇴 @AbraJonas
🇫🇷… pic.twitter.com/5x3ubOB40C
162km to go: Julian Alaphilippe attacks from the pack, and a few others go with him (including Egan Bernal! Good to see him being aggressive again). However, the peloton hoovers up the attack and keeps the pace. They are just over a minute behind the breakaway.
170km to go: So a group of 14 have gone clear, in their number Neilson Powless, Matteo Jorgenson, Matej Mohoric. A really strong breakaway, who are working well together, and the peloton are obviously worried. They are trying to close the gap, but currently lie about 57 seconds back.
Meanwhile, Peter Sagan suffers a mechanical, and loses around two minutes on the peloton while his TotalEnergies team patch him up on the side of the road. The Slovak faces a gruelling pedal back to the chasing pack.
176km to go: The attacking 10 riders at the front aren’t opening the gap yet, the groupdoesn’t include O’Connor apologies for that earlier – it’s difficult to spot them! The difference is one minute and nine seconds.
How the finish line is looking, a long time until we get there though!
🤩 The Puy de Dôme is getting ready…
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2023
🤩 Le Puy de Dôme se prépare…#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/j8Zjz9g6ee
It seems fitting that it is Grande Boucle’s birthday today, he won at the Puy de Dôme in 1959!
💛 He's the oldest Tour winner still alive, having won in Puy de Dôme during his victorious Grande Boucle in 1959, and today he celebrates his 95th birthday.
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2023
🥳 Happy birthday to "The Eagle of Toledo": Monsieur Federico Bahamontes. https://t.co/tiXhRMx6iW
180.7km to go: The actual race has begun now and there has been an early attack to peel away from the pack. A group of around 10 riders involved, including Ben O’Connor. A bold move with such a long time to go!
Cavendish said the 2023 tour would be his last but now it has ended in injury there is a lot of talk around whether he will return next year. His team, Astana Qazaqstan, has offered him a contract. What are your thoughts? Let us know via Twitter or email. Read the full story:
Stage nine has begun! Well the ceremonial start, the actual race will begin after. Stay tuned for all the updates.
Updated
Tour de France director, Christian Prudhomme, said of the location’s return: “This is what is unique. It’s not just the steepness but the fact the road turns in the same direction. That doesn’t happen anywhere else, it’s what has made this climb mythical.” Read more about the history behind it here:
Today’s finish at Puy de Dôme did not feature in the Tour de France for 35 years. It includes a difficult summit ride with the first winner, Fausto Coppi, saying it was “harder than Mont Ventoux” and the man who took the Tour up there for the first time in 1952, Jacques Goddet, described it as “literally a backbreaker”.
Stage eight winner Mads Pedersen paid tribute to Cavendish yesterday, saying: “For me it was a pleasure to be able to race with Mark. I always had a good relationship with him in the peloton and it’s so sad that such a legend has to finish the Tour like this. I wish all the best for Mark and hopefully I can do the last race he’s going to do as well, to honour a legend who is top in cycling.”
Cavendish’s legacy is already secured, according to our very own William Fotheringham. Here is a taste of his piece on the British rider: “The wounds will heal, the broken bones will mend, but the strong flavour of might-have-been will endure, assuming that a banal crash on the road to Limoges does indeed mark the end of Mark Cavendish’s 16-year relationship with the Tour de France. The proviso has its place, because although Cavendish has announced he will retire this season, those of us who have followed his career since his first flirtations with the world of professional cycling have learned that you should never say never in his specific case.” Read in full:
If you want all the detail around Cavendish’s crash yesterday, have a read of our story:
Preamble
Hello and welcome to stage nine of the Tour de France 2023! Today the cyclists will have a 182.4km ride from Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat to Put de Dome. And while the athletes will be focused on the task at hand, some fans may still be thinking about the emotional stage yesterday.
Mark Cavendish, riding in his final tour, crashed during stage eight and broke his collarbone meaning he cannot continue in the event. “We were in the back of the peloton just after the first climb of the day and there was a crash in front of us,” his Astana Qazaqstan teammate Gianni Moscon said. “Cav had to brake full gas and he just hit the rear wheel of the guy in front of him and went down.”
The team will have to rally today if they want to make a dent in the classification. After stage eight, which was won by Mads Pedersen, here is how the general classification top five looks:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 34hr 09min 38sec
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) +25 sec
3. Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1min 34sec
4. Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) +3min 30sec
5. Adam Yates (UAE Emirates) +3min 40sec
The stage is set to get underway at 12.45pm BST/1.45pm local time.
