Michael Woods wins atop the Puy de Dome.Credit:Reuters
Woods caught American Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) just 500 metres from the summit after his 24-year-old rival jumped away from the leading group with less than 50 kilometres left.
Woods then dropped Jorgenson and reached the summit of the Puy de Dome solo. Frenchman Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) finished second with Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) completing the stage podium. Jorgenson finished fourth.
The real race was back down the mountain,though,where yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo–Visma) and second-placed Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) rode away from the remnants of the peloton to set up a one-on-one battle for crucial general classification seconds.
Tadej Pogacar rides away from Jonas Vingegaard as they approach the summit on stage nine.Credit:Reuters
Pogacar,the 2020 and 2021 champion currently racing in the white young rider’s jersey,proved too strong for the yellow jersey,pulling ahead of Vingegaard before the brutal 10 per cent gradient turned to 12 per cent inside the final kilometre.
Vingegaard retains the race lead,but the gap to Pogacar has been cut to 17 seconds. Australia’s Jai Hindley (Bora–Hansgrohe) is 2 minutes and 40 seconds behind Vingegaard on the general classification after crossing the line more than a minute behind Pogacar.
Fourth-placed Carlos Rodriguez kept Ineos-Grenadiers’ podium chances alive despite losing 60 seconds to Pogacar. He now trails 2022 Giro d’Italia winner Hindley by 1 minute and 42 seconds.