2026 Tour de France: Preview of Stage 9: A rollercoaster ride before the rest day

​Key information on Stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France

• Sunday, 12 July: Malemort – Ussel
• 185.5 kilometres, 3,300 metres of elevation gain (hilly)
• Mountain classifications: KM 77 (3rd category), KM 105 (2nd category), KM 129.4 (3rd category), KM 161 (4th category)
• Intermediate sprint: 44.9 km
• Start: 1.35 pm, Finish: approx. 5.47 pm
• Live updates and results

The route of the 9th stage of the Tour de France

Just before the first rest day, the Tour heads for the second mountain range of the race: the Massif Central. The village of Malemort, with a population of 8,000, is the starting point for the 9th stage. Like the finish in Ussel, it is featured in the programme for the first time. However, the terrain over which the riders will be competing during the upcoming 185 kilometres is certainly familiar.

To reach an altitude of 3,300 metres without ever rising above 1,000 metres above sea level, a few hills are required. The route profile therefore resembles a saw, although one or two of its teeth are already blunt or broken off. Initially, the route – which heads mainly north – takes a slight detour to the south. Earlier than on most other stages, the intermediate sprint is contested after just 45 kilometres. By then, the first four major climbs have already been completed.

Six more are set to follow, four of which are classified as mountain climbs, with the 3.8-kilometre stretch to Suc au May – with a gradient of 7.7 per cent – even classified as a Category 2 climb. The riders will already have half the route behind them by then – perhaps even the more difficult half – although the profile remains undulating throughout the day. 40 kilometres from the finish, the route then turns eastwards and heads for Ussel, which, with a population of 9,000, is similar in size to Malemort. In the final stretch, the terrain is downhill – until the last kilometre, which climbs again through the town centre, though without any major bends.

A sporting analysis of Stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France

3,300 metres of climbing is a formidable challenge and, for sprinters – even one like Mads Pedersen (Lidl – Trek) – it is most likely too much. The Dane is unlikely to get another chance like the one he had on Stage 4. On the other hand, the terrain is actually too easy for the climbers. And Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) has already proven throughout the tour that he is once again capable of anything.

It is more likely that a large breakaway group will form early on and, with the help of UAE, make it through to the finish – even if not with as substantial a lead as on Day Four – than that the general classification favourites will go all out. There are still plenty of teams in the peloton that have yet to perform to their own satisfaction. First and foremost is Tudor, which actually has two well-known professionals in its ranks in Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi, who – provided they are in good form – could look strong on this terrain. The stars who have been somewhat subdued so far – Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Premier Tech) – should also be well placed to perform here. But Uno-X Mobility, too, could shine here with Jonas Abrahamsen or Sören Waerenskjold, following the withdrawal of their rider in yellow, Torstein Traeen.