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 secured victory in the ninth stage of the Tour de France with a thrilling sprint finish. Mathieu van der Poel's efforts were thwarted just shy of the finish. Despite Almeida's withdrawal due to injury,

Tim Merlier powered past Jonathan Milan to win stage nine of the Tour de France on Sunday, denying the green jersey holder back-to-back wins after Mathieu van der Poel's audacious solo attack ended in heartbreak just 700 metres from the finish.