Key events

2h ago Pedersen claims the intermediate sprint
2h ago Racing begins!
3h ago Countdown reaches kilometre zero
3h ago King of the mountains update
3h ago Points classification update
3h ago General classification standings
4h ago Introduction

56km to go Pidcock secures the mountains points. For the break to succeed the group must collaborate to extend their advantage once more.

57km to go UAE Team Emirates apply pressure on the peloton along the Cote de la Croix du Pey, a category three ascent averaging 6 percent. They keep options open since gaining significant time on other general classification riders seems improbable. Could this be a tactic to wear down rivals?

59km to go UAE reduce the gap to the break to under a minute. Is Pogacar preparing an attack? The aggressive pace also pulls Pedersen closer to contention.

Correspondence! Gavin Dunn writes: I cannot predict the winner but Ussel in Correze appears in The Day of the Jackal. The Jackal pauses there in his repainted Alfa Romeo for toast and eggs at a late-night cafe en route to his lover's chateau. The spot was in Place de la Gare. Such details rarely appear on TNT.

Appreciate the note. Share your views through the contact link above.

69km to go Mads Pedersen rejoins the main group. With two Lidl-Trek teammates ahead he may still feature prominently.

74km to go Alex Baudin of EF Education-EasyPost, Pablo Castrillo of Movistar and Lennert van Eetvelt of Lotto Intermarche remain unnamed in the break. Van der Poel contributes a strong pull increasing the margin to one minute 25 seconds. More distance is required.

81km to go Johannessen and Simmons will soon be joined by Pidcock, Gee, Van der Poel and others. The stage winner likely emerges from this selection.

82km to go Mads Pedersen drops from the peloton.

83km to go As questions arise about Pidcock the broadcast shows him leading a trio chasing Simmons and Johannessen.

88km to go Simmons and Johannessen advance from the larger break gaining 20 seconds. This split may not benefit the break overall after their earlier efforts.

90km to go Pidcock joins raising the break to 16 riders. They could establish a lead if UAE permits.

91km to go Pidcock attempts to bridge across. The peloton allows the move.

94km to go Thirteen riders hold a 20-second advantage. UAE leads the bunch yet the group includes Quinn Simmons, Derek Gee and Mathieu van der Poel.

98km to go A break attempt forms then dissolves as the peloton regroups. Riders have maintained high intensity for nearly 60 kilometres.

101km to go Pidcock pursues a group led by Filippo Ganna. The front now comprises around 100 riders ahead of the category two Suc au May.

107km to go Matteo Jorgenson and Kevin Vauquelin attack after the mountains banner but are reeled in.

109km to go Tom Pidcock reaches the front and pushes hard uphill. Gaps appear yet control remains tight among general classification squads.

110km to go Riders tackle the category three Cote de Naves and the break is drawn back.

113km to go Haller may drop back after supporting Alaphilippe. The break of five holds 25 seconds.

115km to go Xabier Azparren, Dorion Godon and Michel Hessmann join the Tudor duo. They hold 12 seconds.

119km to go The peloton descends in a long line. Alaphilippe accelerates with teammate Marco Haller.

125km to go Commentator Jonathan Harris-Bass faces challenges describing scenery after the route change leaving limited commentary on successive chateaux.

130km to go Kirsch, Anders Johannessen, Felix Engelhardt and Nelson Oliveira feature in attempts that fail to stick.

132km to go After more than 20 kilometres without a stable break Julian Alaphilippe joins a group of five with potential.

138km to go Merlier trails by a minute among stragglers. Repeated break attempts continue without success.

Pedersen wins the intermediate sprint

Lidl-Trek execute perfectly. Pedersen advances smoothly while Biniam Girmay finishes second for 20 points and Jasper Philipsen takes third with 16. Tim Merlier loses ground after collecting a bottle allowing rivals to close the points gap.

143km to go The sprint occurs on a slight rise increasing effort. Lidl-Trek maintain the lead to position Mads Pedersen for the 25 available points.

147km to go An early intermediate sprint for points specialists arrives in roughly 6km. A lasting break may wait until after.

148km to go Lidl-Trek lead the peloton to close gaps.

150km to go Early attackers include Quinten Hermans, Alex Kirsch and Stefano Oldani holding 25 seconds. Ewen Costiou and Georg Steinhauser chase.

Racing starts!

Christian Prudhomme signals the flag from the sunroof. Stage nine begins.

Countdown to kilometre zero

Riders depart Malemort with racing proper starting in 5km.

Correspondence arrives! Tim Buckley predicts: Tom Pidcock and Ben Healy from the break. No general classification threat yet strong on Ardennes-style climbs. Could Britain celebrate both a World Cup win and a Tour stage victory this weekend? Predictions welcome.

Who wins today's stage? Send predictions via the link above.

King of the mountains standings

Polka dot classification:

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 28
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) 19
3. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) 16
4. Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) 13
5. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) 12
6. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) 10
7. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 10
8. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) 10
9. Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) 9
10. Raul Garcia (Movistar Team) 7

Points standings

Current points race:

1. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) 228
2. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) 213
3. Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling Team) 203
4. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) 175
5. Max Kanter (XDS Astana Team) 172
6. Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) 110
7. Soren Waerenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) 89
8. Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) 79
9. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 75
10. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) 61

General classification standings

Top ten before stage nine:

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 28hrs 49mins 07secs
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike): +2mins 42secs
3. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG): +3mins 27secs
4. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): +3mins 30secs
5. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek): +3mins 34secs
6. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team): +3mins 55secs
7. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): +4mins 00secs
8. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious): +4mins 21secs
9. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek): +4mins 57secs
10. Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek): +7mins 10secs

Further details on shortening stage nine from Jeremy Whittle in Bergerac.

The graphics team updated the stage nine route file removing 30km due to conditions. This is the revised profile riders face today.

Introduction

With Tadej Pogacar holding a commanding lead days like this keep the Tour de France engaging. Shortened by 30km owing to the red heatwave alert in Correze this undulating 155.5km stage from Malemort to Ussel precedes the first rest day and suits breakaway riders and opportunists. The Suc au May climb may tempt attackers yet a Mads Pedersen-style finisher appears probable if he chooses to contest. Without saddle issues Tom Pidcock could add another stage victory. Quinn Simmons and Mathias Vacek also target the stage.