Stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France was tailor-made for the breakaway, with an parcours full of ups and downs that encouraged attacking racing from the very start. After a fierce battle to get up the road, a powerful group finally broke clear, and this time, the peloton didn’t see them again until the very end.
The headline act was Mathieu van der Poel, who proved strongest in the finale to claim the stage victory after spending the day in the break. Tom Pidcock was also among the race's biggest protagonists, riding aggressively throughout the stage and contributing heavily to the move, but ultimately falling short when it mattered most.
Behind them, UAE Team Emirates and INEOS Grenadiers both spent long periods driving the peloton, seemingly weighing up whether to bring the escapees back. In the end, both teams eased off, accepting that the stage wasn't worth the effort, and the breakaway survived all the way to the finish.
Away from the stage itself, Ned Boulting and David Millar discuss Primož Roglič's confirmed departure from Red Bull, where he ranks among the greatest riders of his generation, and what the move could mean for the final chapter of his career.
The episode also features one of David's favourite stories from his racing days, as he reflects on the toughest day he ever endured on the bike, a ride that has largely gone under the radar despite leaving a lasting mark on his memory.
Ned Boulting and David Millar break down Stage 9
🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music
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