Tour De France 2026 – Stage 9

Malemort → Ussel | 185.5 km | mountain

Relentless climbing on narrow, punishing roads will sap the legs long before the final kick into Ussel demands one last, stinging effort from the overall contenders. With tired bodies and accumulated altitude taking their toll, this could be a day where opportunists alike sense a rare chance.

Previous Stage Recap

Stage 8 from Périgueux to Bergerac unfolded exactly as the sprinters had hoped, despite another day of oppressive heat in the Dordogne. Liam Slock launched from the gun and spent virtually the entire 180.4 kilometres alone in front, his audacious move only ending inside the final 1.5 kilometres when the peloton finally swept him up. Soudal Quick-Step and Alpecin–Premier Tech again did most of the chasing, controlling a largely uneventful route that still sapped legs under the extreme temperatures.

The finale then turned into a hectic drag race through Bergerac. Tim Merlier, who seemed boxed in after the last corner, once more produced a devastating turn of speed to win the sprint of a large group and take his second consecutive stage, ahead of Biniam Girmay and Olav Kooij. Jasper Philipsen had to settle for fourth, with Pavel Bittner and Rick Pluimers rounding out the top six, while Max Kanter and Pascal Ackermann also featured in the top ten as Tadej Pogačar safely defended yellow.

The Route

The road from Malemort will rise almost from the gun (first 30km has been cut out due to the heat!), pitching the peloton over a series of short, testing ramps that will make the fight for the breakaway fierce. The profile will never really settle: early hills will sap legs and encourage the strongest rouleurs and climbers to push clear, knowing that once the race leaves the valleys it will head into steadily higher terrain. As the stage moves deeper into the Corrèze, the gradients will start to bite more consistently and the bunch will likely stretch into long, thin lines rather than a compact peloton.

Around the middle of the day the character of the stage will turn fully mountainous. Côte de Naves (2.4km at 6.9%) at kilometre 75 will mark the transition into a more sustained climbing phase, and Suc au May’s 3.9km at 7.1% at kilometre 102 will stand out as the sharpest effort, a launchpad where climbing specialists and breakaway hunters could try to prise open serious gaps while any teams with overall ambitions might begin to exert control. The back half of the route will stay lumpy and demanding, with repeated rises culminating in the punchy ascent of Mont Bessou (0.8km at 7.1%) at kilometre 161, before a rolling, slightly descending run into Ussel.

The finish will reward riders who can climb hard but still produce a powerful effort on undulating roads (last km +4% gradient) after 3244 metres of vertical gain. A reduced group of breakaway artists could contest the stage if the big teams keep a tight grip, but the broken, back‑loaded nature of the course could also suit aggressive riders in the break who thrive in difficult, medium‑mountain terrain (fuga de la fuga).

Key Climbs:

• Côte de Naves — 2.4km at 6.9%, km 75
• Suc au May — 3.9km at 7.1%, km 102
• Mont Bessou — 0.8km at 7.1%, km 161

*24.8km from final summit to the finish.*

Weather

34°C | Sunny | 8 km/h ESE

How It Might Unfold

After the sprinters’ feast in Bergerac, the opening hour will be frantic as punchy climbers and breakaway specialists will try to form a sizeable escape before Côte de Naves. GC teams will likely allow a strong group to go, provided no overall threats are present, using the mid-stage climbs and the heat to ride at a steadier tempo in the peloton. The intermediate ascents, especially Suc au May, will thin out the break, and the battle for mountain points could keep the pace high. If the move is large and well-represented, it could build enough of a buffer to force the GC squads into a late dilemma: chase for the stage or save energy before the rest day.

The real selection is likely to come from Suc au May onward, with its steep ramps offering a launchpad for pure climbers. Mont Bessou near the finale will then serve as the decisive platform, where either an attacker from the break can go solo or the strongest climbing sprinters (Pedersen/Matthew) can try to eliminate any remaining sprinters. The run into Ussel is rolling rather than flat, so a reduced group sprint could still happen if the last climb is ridden more conservatively.

Contenders

Puncheur-climbers and classics all‑rounders will shape the fight for the win. Mads Pedersen, Michael Matthews, Magnus Cort and Mathieu van der Poel (who doesn’t seem to be in his top shape) could relish a shortened, boiling‑hot mountain day that softens the pure climbers but still leaves room for power on the flatter sections and any reduced‑group sprint. Mads Pedersen is in some desperate need of green jersey points, and has two of the best domestiques at his disposal (Simmons, Vacek).

Breakaway specialists like Dorian Godon, Romain Gregoire, Marco Frigo, Tobias Foss, Mauro Schmid, Luke Plapp, Javier Romo, Jonas Abrahamsen, and Maxim Van Gils could sense a golden opportunity if the favorites hesitate. Finally: Quinn Simmons and Mathias Vacek have the legs to win, but should (still) be riding for Pedersen in this stage. and Tim Wellens, Brandon McNulty are good shots if UAE allows their domestiques some freedom for the day.

Predictions

1. ⭐⭐⭐ Mads Pedersen

2. ⭐⭐ Michael Matthews

3. ⭐⭐ Mathieu Van Der Poel

4. ⭐⭐ Tim Wellens

5. ⭐ Maxim van Gils

6. ⭐ Marco Frigo

7. ⭐ Javier Romo

Predicted Winner

Mads Pedersen