Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier won the ninth stage of the Tour de France in a mass sprint, while João Almeida dropped out of the race with a fractured rib.

Tim Merlier of Soudal Quick-Step won stage nine of the Tour de France on Sunday in a sprint finish to deny Jonathan Milan back-to-back stage victories after Mathieu van der Poel's early attack saw him lead the stage until the last kilometre.

Tim Merlier won stage nine of the Tour de France at Chateauroux on Sunday after a heroic long-range escape from Mathieu van der Poel was caught in the final kilometre. There was no change atop the overall standings with Tadej Pogacar now holding a 54sec advantage over Remco Evenepoel in second with French starlet Kevin Vauquelin third.