Stage 9 of the Tour de France was BRUTAL. The leg-breaking parcours in the run to the Puy de Dôme followed by the agonising kilometres of the legendary climb itself. I don’t have one moment of joy today, instead I offer a salute to the riders who conquered the Puy today.
To Movistar’s American, Matteo Jorgenson who went solo from the breakaway with 48km to go.
Imagine this is your view when your muscles are already screaming and you have to make it to the top. I would get off the bike and cry.
A cruel view even for a lone leader… Can Matteo Jorgenson hold on to win up there, on the summit of the Puy de Dôme? #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/bUq5Fx7vsv
— Felix Lowe (@saddleblaze) July 9, 2023
Some ride by Matteo Jorgenson at the moment. Question will be how much does he have in the tank when he gets to the climb. #TDF2023
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) July 9, 2023
Matteo holds the Strava record for this climb and it was heart-wrenching to see him lose first, second and ultimately 3rd step of the stage podium. He was awarded most combative rider but deserved so much more. What a ride – I hope it is something he will be proud of when the disappointment recedes.
I ended up getting solo. So from there, I went all in and yeah, in the end, you just have to hope behind they blow up – because a minute at the bottom of that climb wasn’t quite enough.
Gracias por todo, @MatteoJorg 🙏🏼🤗#TDF2023 | #RodamosJuntos pic.twitter.com/HJPmSXMQcZ
— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) July 9, 2023
To Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech)
Always slated to be part of the break and his persistence and perfect timing paid off with his first Tour de France stage win.
It was a North American duel that took place on the slopes of the Puy-de-Dôme.
⏪The last 500 metres of this crazy stage ⤵️Au bout de l'effort, c'est un duel nord-américain qui a eu lieu sur les pentes du Puy-de-Dôme.
⏪Les 500 derniers mètres de cette étape folle ⤵️#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/SIrnqq8rzc— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2023
🗣️"Je ne pensais pas à la victoire d'étape. Je me suis juste dit que j'allais faire un contre-la-montre jusqu'au sommet, et que, peu importe le résultat, je serais fier de moi"
Les premiers mots du vainqueur du jour, @rusty_woods ⤵️#TDF2023 @Continental_fr @IsraelPremTech https://t.co/cMHbz74k6V
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2023
To the duelling duo Jonas Vinegaard (Jumbo-Visma)and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates)
I know there was disappointment that they didn’t play for the win. To be fair neither did the legends Raymond Poulidor and Jacques Anquetil whose names are synonymous with this climb. However, with the breakaway holding a huge margin and always going to take stage honours, powder was kept dry in the peloton until they hit the steepest ramps. Once chief Jumbo Bee Sepp Kuss had swung off, we were on high alert.
Why is Kuss moving up the peloton so daunting?! #tdf2023
— Issie 💙 (@IssieAtch) July 9, 2023
But it was Tadej who attacked and got the gap, and ice cold Jonas who limited his losses to 8seconds to keep his yellow jersey.
💪 @TamauPogi attacks! Jonas Vingegaard can't stay in his wheel!
💪 @TamauPogi attaque ! Jonas Vingegaard ne parvient pas à rester dans la roue !#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/0IPuLTRxsc
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2023
This elastic just won't snap, impressive from Jonas, but cmon pogi #TDf2023
— Issie 💙 (@IssieAtch) July 9, 2023
They honoured the stage and I won’t hear otherwise.
To every rider that made it today. CHAPEAU
🥵 Big effort from @tompidcock battling @SimonYatess
🥵 Énorme performance de @tompidcock , qui a bataillé avec @SimonYatess #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/r1MgApd65n
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2023
🇫🇷 @LeTour
5eme au Puy-de-Dome ! Chapeau @clem_berthet
5th at the top of Puy-de-Dome! Hats off @clem_berthet #AG2RCITROËNTEAM pic.twitter.com/cIizm86t1U
— AG2R CITROËN TEAM (@AG2RCITROENTEAM) July 9, 2023
🥲🥲🥲 pic.twitter.com/2W9z6Zbp6G
— Le ßeau Vélo (@Le_Beau_Velo) July 9, 2023
What a stage indeed.
What a stage #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/eGduTZhFlP
— Brónagh (@BeebsyMcA) July 9, 2023
Not a bad day for North America.
North American fete at the Tour de France: Canadian winner, two Americans in the top-10 on the stage, Powless in KoM, Kuss in top-10 on GC #TDF2023
— Andrew Hood (@EuroHoody) July 9, 2023
Stage results
🏆 Rankings and distinctive jerseys after stage 9
🏆 Classements et maillots distinctifs après l'étape 9#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/6KU0spdB5X
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2023