Tom Pidcock sprinted to third place on stage nine of the Tour de France on Sunday, finishing behind winner Mathieu van der Poel and runner-up Tobias Johannessen. The 25-year-old British rider for INEOS Grenadiers showed strong form on a demanding day that ended with a dramatic bunch kick. Van der Poel, riding for Alpecin–Premier Tech, took his first Grand Tour stage win of the year. Tadej Pogacar, the four-time Slovenian champion, kept the overall lead.
How did the stage finish?
Mathieu van der Poel launched his sprint with about 200 meters to go and held off a fast-charging Johannessen. Pidcock came through just behind them, crossing the line in third. The stage covered rolling terrain that split the peloton several times, but the main contenders for the general classification all finished safely in the front group. Pogacar remained in yellow, with Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel still close on time.
What does this result mean for Tom Pidcock?
Pidcock's third place is his best result so far in this year's Tour de France. It shows he can mix it with the fastest finishers on a hard day. The Yorkshireman has been targeting stage wins and a strong overall showing. This podium finish will boost his confidence heading into the mountain stages later this week. He is now 12th on general classification, 1 minute and 45 seconds behind Pogacar.
What comes next for Pidcock?
Stage ten heads into the Alps with two big climbs. That terrain suits Pidcock, who won the queen stage of the 2022 Tour on the Alpe d'Huez. He will likely try to get into a breakaway and fight for another stage win. The INEOS Grenadiers team has said they will support him on the climbs. Pidcock himself said after the stage that he felt good and would keep attacking.
Why this stage mattered
Van der Poel's win was his first Grand Tour stage victory since 2021. For Pidcock, finishing third against a rider of that caliber is a solid result. The stage also confirmed that Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates still controls the race. But Pidcock's sprint showed he has the speed to challenge on the right kind of finish. The Tour de France continues on Tuesday with a flat stage before the mountains arrive.