Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier won the ninth stage of the Tour de France in a mass sprint, while João Almeida dropped out of the race with a fractured rib.

Belgium’s Tim Merlier won his second stage at this year’s Tour de France on Sunday, outsprinting Jonathan Milan and Arnaud De Lie in Châteauroux, but the real story of the day was an incredible day-long break from Alpecin-Deceuninck pair Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert.

João Almeida, a key teammate of Tour de France leader Tadej Pogačar, is forced to abandon the race as Belgian Tim Merlier takes out a dramatic sprint stage.