Tour de France 2025 through the lens of James Startt - Stage 9
On each stage at the Tour de France, James Startt selects his image of the day, offering a unique perspective on the rolling citadel and the characters who inhabit it.
Stage 9 of the Tour de France was won by Tim Merlier, but the day will be remembered for the remarkable two-man break by Alpecin-Deceuninck teammates Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert.
When they broke clear in the opening kilometre, the assumption was that Van der Poel was trying to pick up the points at the intermediate sprint with an eye to the green jersey. At the finish, Van der Poel explained that he had a different podium in mind – he simply wanted to help Rickaert achieve his dream of standing on the Tour podium as the day’s most combative rider.
That mission was accomplished, but Van der Poel came close to pulling off the ultimate heist of the stage win. Rickaert put in his final pull with 6km to go, and from there it was Van der Poel alone against the chasing peloton.
The Tour’s visits to Châteauroux tend to produce bunch sprints, and so it proved again here. But Van der Poel and Rickaert’s effort will linger in the memory.
James Startt is covering his 36th Tour de France. He is a two-time winner of the World Sports Photography awards and he currently serves as the creative director to inGamba luxury cycling tours.
