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Here is the route profile of stage nine:
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We’ll undoubtedly be hearing a lot about Cavendish’s Châteauroux legacy today. Let me know if you have any memories of this, his first Tour stage win back in 2008:
Stage nine: Chinon to Châteauroux, 174km
Here’s a look at today’s stage, Sunday 13 July: Chinon to Châteauroux, 174.1km, with William Fotheringham’s preview:
British fans remember Chateauroux for the first of Mark Cavendish’s 35 stage wins in 2008 and his 32nd in 2021. With not a single rated climb en route, this is bound to be a sprint day, and by this point, the pressure will be mounting on the fast men who are yet to win: if Philipsen and Merlier are on form, the finger will be pointing at Biniam Girmay and Dylan Groenewegen.
The preview was written before the Tour, so Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won’t be in the mix today after having to withdaw from the race on stage three.
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to the Guardian’s Tour de France live blog. It’s another flat stage today for the riders as they make their way from Chinon to Châteauroux over 174.1km of parcours. There’s a low elevation gain of 1,400m, no categorised climbs and an intermediate sprint at 24km in.
Châteauroux, which has been renamed ‘Cavendish City’ temporarily, is a sprinter’s finish. Mark Cavendish won three times in the city and notably took the first of his record 35 wins here in 2008.
So, unsuprisingly, it’s going to be a day for the sprinters. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) is fresh off a victory yesterday – can he repeat it in another bunch sprint? Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step) was unlucky yesterday, suffering a mechanical close to the finish and having to expend energy trying to get to the front of the pack before a rush for the line. Perhaps today is his day? Or Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) could get his first stage win of this Tour? Oh, and we shouldn’t forget Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike). I’d love to get your thoughts, so please email via the link above.
Before the action starts at 1.10pm CEST (12.10am BST), here’s a refresher of how yesterday played out:
