Tour de France 2017: Uran sprints to victory in hectic race, Froome still in yellow

At 181.5 kilometres, the 9th stage of the Tour de France takes in seven intermediate climbs - three of which are hors catégorie - to finish downhill in Chambery after a technical descent. Rigoberto Uran sprints to victory ahead of Warren Barguil and Chris Froome, who retains in the overall lead. Geraint Thomas and Richie Porte crash out of the Tour, while Quintana and Contador lose time. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 9th stage 2017 Tour de France

1. Rigoberto Uran (col)
2. Warren Barguil (fra) s.t.
3. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
4. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
5. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
6. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
7. George Bennett (nzl) + 1.15
8. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
9. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
10. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.

11. Simon Yates (gbr) + 1.15
12. Tiesj Benoot (bel) + 3.32
13. Mikel Nieve (spa) s.t.
14. Louis Meintjes (rsa) s.t.
15. Pierre Latour (fra) + 4.19
20. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.

GC after 9th stage
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.18
3. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.51
4. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.55
5. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 1.37
6. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.40
7. Simon Yates (gbr) + 1.58
8. Nairo Quintana (col) + 2.13
9. Mikel Landa (spa) + 3.02
10. George Bennett (nzl) + 3.49

11. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 5.00
12. Alberto Contador (spa) + 5.15
13. Pierre Latour (fra) + 5.30
14. Mikel Nieve (spa) + 6.18

Race report
Once the flag is dropped Tim Wellens goes on the attack and Thibaut Pinot joins him. The French rider is the first rider to crest Côte des Neyrolles, thus taking most KOM points. On the lower slopes, Robert Gesink hits the deck and abandons.

On the plateau after the top some 40 riders re-group. Bauke Mollema, Michael Matthews, Jan Bakelants, Tiesj Benoot, Tony Gallopin, Thomas De Gendt, Carlos Betancur, Primoz Roglic, Jarlinson Pantano, Alexis Vuillermoz, Simon Geschke, Dani Navarro and Warren Barguil are aboard. Once again, Pinot takes most KOM points atop the Col de Bérentin, while De Gendt is first to crest Col de Cuvery.

On the slopes of the Col de la Biche – 10.5 kilometres at 9% – Wellens and De Gendt are dropped. Roglic is first to crest, almost 6 minutes ahead of the GC contenders.

Vuillermoz puts pressure on the other leaders on the descent. Pantano, Barguil, Domont, Bakelants, Poljanski and Benoot follow in his slipstream. Geraint Thomas and Rafal Majka crash in the main group, which forces Thomas to abandon and Majka continues seriously injured.

On the Grand Colombier – 8.5 kilometres at 9.9% – Benoot and Barguil are the last men standing. Barguil is first to crest ahead of Benoot and Vuillermoz, Mollema and Roglic re-join the front on the descent. Gallopin, Geschke, Pantano, Matthews, Betancur, Bakelants and Navarro hook up in the valley.

Michael Matthews wins the intermediate sprint ahead of Bakelants and Gallopin, who push on together. They crest Côte de Jongieux almost 1 minute ahead of their former companions and the GC favourites are more than 3 minutes behind.

As soon as he tackles Mont du Chat – 8.7 kilometres at 10.3% – Mollema heads for the front of the race and Barguil joins him to go on the counter-attack. The Frenchman leaves the two leaders behind, while Bakelants and Mollema push on together.

On the lower slopes Aru strikes when Froome is plagued by a mechanical. All other favourites jump to the wheel of the Sardinian, but then the attack is neutralised. Nobody dares to join Aru. When Froome is back Fuglsang leaves.

Fuglsang gobbles up Mollema and Bakelants, while Contador can’t follow the pace in the main group. And when Froome speeds up Quintana is dropped. A little later the favourites bring back Fuglsang.

Barguil crestst the Mont du Chat half a minute ahead of Froome, Aru, Uran, Martin, Fuglsang, Bardet and Porte, which brings him the polka dot jersey. In the descent Porte crashes and he takes down Dan Martin. The Tasmanian is forced to abandon.

Bardet attacks in the descent en in the valley he re-joins Barguil to leave him behind on a small climb. The Frenchman hooks up with the group Froome to chase Bardet down with 2 kms to go. In the ensuing sprint Uran snags the victory millimetres ahead of Barguil. Froome comes in third and cements his lead with 4 seconds (time bonus).

Arnaud Démare finishes out of time, so his Tour de France is done.

Interesting reads:
– route 9th stage
– GC after the 8th stage
– favourites to win the 9th stage