Two days, two sprint showdowns, and a whole lot of heartbreak and horsepower.
Stage 8 saw Jonathan Milan power to his first Tour de France victory in Laval, reclaiming the green jersey with a dominant uphill sprint finish. But the weekend double wasn’t meant to be —
Tim Merlier snatched Stage 9 in Châteauroux, outpacing Milan in a chaotic final burst after Mathieu van der Poel’s heroic 173km breakaway was reeled in just 500m from the line.
From “Cavendish City” nostalgia to blistering 80kph sprints, this recap dives into the tactics, triumphs, and tension that defined the weekend.
Plus, a look at how the GC contenders stayed cool in the heat while the sprinters stole the spotlight.