Stage 9 of Tour de France 2024 had been long and widely anticipated by cyclists and cycling fans because it featured thirty-two kilometers of gravel, divided into fourteen sections. The gravel sections could cause splits in the peloton, mechanical issues, and crashes, and these issues in turn could lead to general classification favorites such as Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma – Lease a Bike), Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Primoz Roglic (Team Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) potentially losing the Tour de France in today’s stage. 

Tour de France organizer A.S.O. had chosen a 199-kilometer route from Troyes to Troyes. In addition to the fourteen gravel sections, the parcours were hilly and the stage included four Category 4 climbs. There had been significant rainfalls in the region in recent days, but weather forecasts for today predicted dry weather with temperatures between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius. It was an important day for all of France as French President Emmanuel Macron had called legislative elections.

The Tour de France peloton was still situated in the Champagne region and today’s stage winner would definitely deserve a champagne celebration after experiencing the celebratory festivities on the stage podium in Troyes. Troyes is also known for its medieval city center, its sportive activities and for being the home of many pret-a-porter fashion brands. Lacoste is located in Troyes. 

Historically, Troyes is known for many important battles. Roman general Flavius Aetius fought against Attila in Troyes. After conquering Troyes by way of her unique battle tactics, Joan of Arc led French King Charles VII from Troyes to Reims for his crowning in 1429. An additional battle would be added to the history of Troyes after today’s important Tour de France stage.

World Champion Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), as was Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) and Tadej Pogacar if the animating and courageous Slovenian rider decided to go on the attack.

Important battles for positions would be fought within the Tour de France peloton before the gravel sections, as it was of crucial importance for the riders to be located at the front of the peloton when entering the gravel zones. Teams were using 30 mm and 32 mm bike tires for today’s gravel stage, with slightly lower tire pressure than usual.

The action was intense from kilometer zero as several riders launched attacks to establish an early breakaway. Riders would be making their way through vine fields and immense natural parks near Troyes in today’s stage and many teams were trying to join a breakaway.

With 175 kilometers remaining, a five-man group had established a twenty second lead while the cyclists were riding through a forest. The breakaway participants were Paul Lapeira (Decathlon-AG2R), Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ), Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Jarrad Drizners (Lotto-Dstny), and Team PremierTech’s Derek Gee. However, several attack attempts were still being launched from the main peloton.

All attacks had been reeled in and neutralized approximately 157.5-kilometers from the finish and the general classification teams were trying to control the pace and discourage further attacks. But it did not take many additional kilometers before additional attempts were made. 

Multiple breakaway groups were now in front as the Tour de France peloton reached the first of fourteen gravel sections.

Five breakaway groups had been formed with 143 kilometers remaining. The groups featured several interesting riders, including Ben Healy, Thomas Pidcock, Maxim van Gils, Jasper Stuyven, Matej Mohoric, Stefan Küng and Magnus Cort, but they were all within one minute of the chasing main peloton.

Neilson Powless, Thomas Pidcock, and Ben Healy were working hard to make their way to the front group. They succeeded.

The main peloton entered sector 13 and significant distortions were made. Wheels were skidding, riders were forced off their bikes. Some had to push their bikes up the gravel hills. The general classification favorites were still at the front of the main peloton, none had been dropped.

While a twelve-man group formed at the front of the race, the main peloton split on the treacherous route and Primoz Roglic got caught in the second peloton. The Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe rider had to use all his teammates as support in his quest to make it back to other general classification favorites such as Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar, Carlos Rodriguez, and Remco Evenepoel.

Roglic eventually made it back, but his energy stores were now significantly depleted, and several teammates were done.

The front group had an advantage of 01:20 minutes as the riders approached the next gravel sector. The riders were Thomas Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers), Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), Maxim van Gils (Lotto-Dstny), Derek Gee (Team PremierTech), Axel Zingle (Cofidis), Alex Aranburu (Movistar), Oier Lazkano (Movistar), Javier Romo (Movistar), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana), and Frenchman Anthony Turgis of Team TotalEnergies).

UAE Team Emirates riders were setting the fastest possible pace at the front of the main peloton.

Vingegaard suffered a mechanical issue. The Dane and defending Tour de France champion received a bike from teammate Jan Tratnik. He would have to make his way back to the front of the peloton before the next gravel section was reached.

Vingegaard returned before the start of sector 11 (the fourth of the 14 sectors). The riders were focused, and the action was intense. UAE Team Emirates were controlling the peloton, and no other team was able to change the game at this point.

Pogacar attacked from the front of the peloton in his beautiful yellow skinsuit as the peloton exited sector 11. Visma-Lease a Bike would have to respond immediately. The remaining eight front men now had a lead of just forty sections.

Ineos-Grenadiers came to the aid of Visma-Lease a Bike. A chase was on. Pogacar was caught.

81 kilometers of today’s stage 9 remained, and the riders were now approaching the final categorized climb of the day – the Category 4 Cote de Chacenay. Visma-Lease a Bike had moved to the front of the main peloton, while the front group now featured ten riders with a one-minute advantage. The breakaway optimists were pushing their pedals hard to avoid being caught.

Remco Evenepoel attacked solo from the main peloton with two kilometers of the gravel sector. Pogacar counter attacked one kilometer later. Vingegaard joined him.

While the Pogacar-Vingegaard-Evenepoel trio was chasing from behind, Derek Gee attacked from the front group. Shortly thereafter, the three GC favorites decided to wait for the chasers. The exciting attack from the GC favorites was alas annulled. Spectator enjoyment was not being prioritized highly.

Evenepoel suffered a mechanical issue with his bike and had to exit his pedals. He got back on his bike, but the other favorites were already far ahead on the gravel roads. The Belgian favorite later fought his way back to the front.

The front group was now on gravel sector eight. They had a one-minute lead over the general classification favorites group. Stuyven attacked from the front group but was reeled in by the other seven riders in the front group.

Aleksandr Vlasov crashed suddenly and for unknown reasons. Roglic’ main lieutenant returned to his bike and fought on but looked shaken.

The front group had increased its advantage to 01:20 minutes with 43 kilometers remaining. Attacks were launched from the main peloton to try to bridge the gap before it was too late. Michael Matthews, World Champion Mathieu van der Poel, Biniam Girmay, and Rui Costa tried their luck.

The chase group slowly made their way towards the front group. With 35 kilometers of the stage remaining, group 1 was 58 seconds ahead of the Matthews-Van der Poel group, while the general classifications group were 02:20 minutes behind group 1.

The main peloton entered gravel sector 5 spearheaded by UAE Team Emirates.

Riders in the front group fought hard to avoid being caught by riders in group 2. Ben Healy was very active at the front.

Pogacar attacked from the favorites group. He was just 01:30 minutes behind frontman Healy. Pogacar dropped Vingegaard, Evenepoel, and Roglic. Gravel sector three was coming up. Twenty kilometers remained.

Matteo Jorgenson returned Jonas Vingegaard to Pogacar’s rear wheel. Evenepoel fought hard in an attempt to catch up, but the Belgian rider had no teammates to come to his aid and do the hard chase work.

Van der Poel and his breakaway mates in group 2 were closing in on the front group. They were now only 36 seconds behind, and 12 kilometers remained. Meanwhile, the Pogacar-Vingegaard group was 01:12 behind the front men.

Stuyven attacked from the front group. Gee countered. They did not want world champion Van der Poel to catch them before the stage finale.

The riders entered the final gravel section of the stage. While attacks were launched in the front group, Pogacar attacked solo from the favorites group. The other riders closed the gap. Evenepoel launched an attack but was also shut down by the other riders in the group.

Stuyven remained solo in front. But his fellow breakaway compatriots were just seven seconds behind with six kilometers remaining of today’s stage 9.

Healy fought hard to bridge the gap to Stuyven. Pidcock was also contributing to the chase effort. Four kilometers remained.

Healy attacked. Four seconds separated the Belgian rider from the first chasers.

Healy attacked in the final kilometer after Stuyven was caught. Gee counter attacked. But it was Frenchman Anthony Turgis who won stage 9 for TotalEnergies on an election day in France, where the right-wing parties are unfortunately looking set to win a majority. Thomas Pidcock finished second for Ineos-Grenadiers, while Canada’s Derek Gee completed the stage podium.

Tadej Pogacar remains general classification leader in this year’s Tour de France following today’s stage 9 as the general classification favorites reached the finish line in joint fashion. 

Monday is a rest day, and the Tour de France will resume with stage 10 on Tuesday, July 9.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for complete coverage from Tour de France 2024.

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