As it happened: Michael Woods takes Tour de France stage 9 as Pogačar distances Vingegaard

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182km culminating in the savage 13km summit finish of Puy de Dôme will determine the new general classification

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Good morning and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 9 of the 2023 Tour de France! 

Today's 182.4km stage from Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat to the Puy de Dôme is one of the most anticipated stages in recent memory, with the fabled mountain top finish returning to Tour de France for the first time since 1988.

We're set for a huge GC battle between the last two winners of the Tour, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), who are only separated by 25 seconds at the top of the overall standings. 

The start location for stage 9 in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat is highly associated with cycling legend Raymond Poulidor as it was where he resided. Pou Pou was one of the stars of the 60s and 70s that battled with both Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx on many occasion, earning him the nickname of 'The Eternal Second' having never won the Tour, but was a true fan-favourite.

Today's full stage design is almost an homage to the great French rider with the Puy de Dôme also playing a part in his history. His legacy in the sport now lives on through his megastar grandson, Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Decuninck), and you may remember his full Alpecin team donning special kits on the opening stage of 2021 Tour de France to honour Poulidor. Here's a look at the special bike Van der Poel will ride today to remember his grandfather. 

If you want to read more on the history of Poulidor's association with the Puy de Dôme, check out Barry Ryan's great feature on how he battled Anquetil on the slopes of the volcano in 1964, which led to one of cycling's most famous photographs.

Moment of truth – The Puy de Dôme and the Tour de France’s greatest duel

Yesterday's dramatic stage was won by Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) in a hilly run to the line in Limoges, but the headline of the day was undoubtedly the end of Mark Cavendish's (Astana Qazaqstan) 2023 Tour de France due to a crash in which he broke his collarbone. The Brit is now on his way back home to recover. 

We're now under half an hour away from the neutralised start in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat on a day which should see the general classification race blown to pieces on the punishing inclines of the Puy de Dôme.

Aside from Cavendish, we saw another DNF yesterday in Steff Cras (TotalEnergies) who said he was knocked off his bike by a spectator in the approach to Limoges. We've had another DNS this morning, leaving our starting bunch at 169 riders as Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) has been forced to leave the race after suffering from his injuries sustained in a heavy crash on stage 5. 

We've seen historic winners atop the Puy de Dôme in the past through legends such as Fausto Coppi, Federico Bahamontes, Felice Gimondi, Luis Ocaña, Lucien Van Impe and Joop Zoetemelk.

Who will include themselves in this illustrious list of some of cycling's heroes that have won here? 

Van der Poel was understandably full of emotions at the sign on and team presentation, even reduced to tears on stage in a place so important to his late grandfather and family. His team have Mercier coloured stripes on their shorts today as part of one of their homages to Pou Pou. 

Stage 9 of the Tour de France of underway from the neutralised start! We'll have just over 4km of riding in the départ fictif before the flag is waved and racing gets started. 

Here's Van der Poel being presented a bike of his grandfathers on stage during an emotional morning for him in his grandfather's former home town. There's been some lovely nods to the great rider this morning and today will mean a lot for Van der Poel. 

The sun is shining, it's baking hot and we're heading east towards the Massif Central. We've got a big day in store with the GC battle set to explode into life on the Puy de Dôme at the stage's finale. 

182.4KM TO GO

Straight from the gun we've got attacks flying. Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) is the first to go, followed by a whole host of other breakaway hopefuls. 

We've got a split of around 10 riders forming with a bit of a blockage forming in the peloton. Is this the break of the day gone already?

Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) has made this move and alongside Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) could be a real threat for the victory if the break are given a big advantage. This leading group have 30 seconds already and seem to be the move of the day with three further stragglers trying to bridge the gap. 

Here's the composition of the group leading for now:
- Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost)
- Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious)
- Clément Berthet (AG2R-Citroën)
- Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar)
- Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar)
- Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech)
- Guillame Boivan (Israel-Premier Tech)
- David de a Cruz (Astana Qazaqstan)
- Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan)
- Jonas Abrhamsen (Uno-X)
- Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X)
- Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies)
- Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies)

175KM TO GO

The gap is out at 1:00 and it will be very hard for any rider to bridge this gap. Trek and QuickStep are riding on the front behind and must be unhappy that they have missed it. Certainly not a calm start to the stage. Van Aert is interested at the front with Pedersen and Asgreen riding for now. 

Speeds are up at 70km/h in this rapid start to stage 9. Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) has had a mechanical at the back of the bunch and is riding back into the peloton now. 

Our 14 riders at the head of the race are working nicely together and are trying to build their 53 second advantage. The fight for the break isn't over yet though. 

Dries Devenyns (Soudal-Quick Step) is shredding it on the front for his team and the gap is beginning to come to 45 seconds. Can they close this gap?

Ineos Grenadiers are the next to try and close this gap with Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) also trying to bridge to the leaders. Van der Poel and Skjelmose are also right up they're in this fight. 

Alaphilippe hits the accelerator and tries his luck to bridge this move. He's got a few companions with him and will want them all to cooperate to try and close this gap. He's got Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) and Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) for help, but no consistent move is sticking. 

We've lost some sprinters out the back over one of the uncategorised climbs that characterise this region of France, Jordi Meeus (Bora-hansgrohe), Pedersen, Stuyven and Sam Welsford (dsm-firmenich). 

The last moves just petered out and the gap is back out to 1:00. We're still not completely settled, however. 

Skjelmose and Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost) have gone of the front as a duo. This shouldn't work, however, as closing a 1:06 gap on your own is quite the task and Bettiol is not coming through to pull off the Dane's wheel with Powless already in the break for American squad. 

160KM TO GO

EF are doing a nice job of stifling moves by sitting onto any pursuer that wants to try and bridge the gap to the leading group containing polka-dot jersey wearer, Powless. 

Jorgenson leads the break in what was a very quick formation as our group of 14 got away from the peloton as soon as the flag was dropped. 

They've sat up behind and finally the attacks have stopped. It will be intriguing to see how much of an advantage they are given with both Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates probably assuming their leader could take today's stage and the bonus seconds that would come with it. 

The break are about to mop up all the big points from an insignificant intermediate sprint alongside the Lac de Vassivière. Uno-X have shot off the front to take the points and the cash prize through Abrahamsen with Gregaard in second. 

Lilian Calmejane has just been taken down a fans decorative pole holding jerseys. An incredibly stupid crash being caused by a spectator. After what happened to Cras yesterday, it's not what you want to see. 

Israel-Premier Tech have done a tremendous job to get their top climber, Michael 'Rusty' Woods, in the break alongside Boivin. If you feel like you can remember Woods' Canadian compatriot, but can't place him, he was one of the riders that performed brilliantly in the wet edition of Paris-Roubaix in 2021. A great rider to have alongside Woods to pull him along on the flatter portions before the break reach the Puy de Dôme. 

140KM TO GO

Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) is giving himself a shower at the front of the peloton as he gets into his work. They won't ride too hard for now, but on a sweltering hot day, he'll need a few more of those before we reach the mountain top finish. 

Lidl-Trek will be gutted they've missed this move with either Ciccone or Skjelmose after seeing them be allowed an advantage of 9:18. Here's the moment Bettiol had to apologise to the Dane for not being allowed to offer him up a turn to try and bridge the gap with Powless already in their for EF and the American squad happy with the break's composition. 

TODAY'S TOUR DE FRANCE MENU

On such a hot day in the saddle, it will be incredibly important for all the riders to get their nutrition correct. There will be a lot of feeding and re-fueling before the end of the day. The Puy de Dôme will be tackled on a winding road that curls on the side of the volcano and the riders will be exposed to the sun and heat in central France. 

Everyone in the break is continuing to swap turns nicely as their advantage surpasses 10 minutes for the first time. 

We're approaching our first KOM point of the day at the Côte de Felletin (2.1km at 5.2%). There's only one point on offer and Powless will take it without challenge.

Powless now has 37 points in the polka-dot jersey competition and sits nine ahead of Felix Gall (AG2R-Citroën) in second. There are three more points available before the final climb to the Puy de Dôme. If he gets all of them, that would put him on 40 points, 21 ahead of Pogačar and 22 in front of Vingegaard, almost guaranteeing him another more days in the jersey with only 20 available over the top of the final ascent. 

100KM TO GO

Powless is off again to go and get his second KOM point of the day at the top of the Côte de Pontcharraud (1.8km at 4.6%). 

All the sports directors are hot on their riders to ensure hydration and fuelling is maintained. If anyone gets it wrong and forgets to replenish their stores, they could be massively exposed on the Puy de Dôme. 

Here's Neilson Powless, our current polka-dot jersey wearer, on a day which has been very successful so far. He's increased his lead in the mountains classification, albeit by two points, and is one of the favourites to take victory from the break with a 10-minute advantage over the peloton with 87km left to ride. 

Woods is the big favourite in the GC group, with the most climbing pedigree, especially over the steepest inclines. The Canadian has won Grand Tour stages in his career, but only ever at La Vuelta a España. He'll desperately want to take victory on the Puy de Dôme today. 

Also keep an eye on Berthet in this leading group. He worked tirelessly for Gall on the climbs on stage 5 where the Austrian finished third behind Hindley and Ciccone. He's a very talented rider. 

Mechanical for Gregaard in the break. He's having a wheel change and will be happy the gap is over 10 minutes. They've gone for the slow back wheel switch instead of the spare bike oddly. He should be fine getting back on though, but every bit of energy wasted counts. 

An insect appears to have flown into the gap of Jorgenson's helmet and sunglasses and stung him on the head. He's back at the doctors motorbike and hopefully he'll be okay. 

Jumbo-Visma have been happy to give the break a huge advantage and the probable stage win. They clearly decided there was no chance they would pace for Pogačar to get bonus seconds in a final 'sprint' against Vingegaard and the stage win atop the Puy de Dôme as the Slovenian is the punchier of the two. 

All the teams are now taking musettes and bidons on what is an incredibly important day to get your fuelling correct with the heat and the difficulty of the final climb. 

Boivin has shot off the front in the break. Is he giving Woods something to bridge to over the next category 3 climb. 

Here's a look at the profile of our final climb. This shows how the 7.7% average gradient doesn't paint the full picture, as the middle kilometres skew this stat. The final 4.5km average over 11% gradient each and will be tackled on an incredibly narrow road without fans. The images of the riders doing battle should be incredible on the exposed mountainside road. 

Lutsenko is setting a hard tempo in the break to try and reduce its size form 14 to something more manageable. Boivin has been brought back in now. 

Campenaerts and Mohorič have accelerated in the break as they approach the top of the Côte de Pontaumur (3.3km at 5.3%). They will want to build an advantage over the top before the final climb if they can create separation. 

Powless responds and takes the two KOM points to add to his total which is now 40. 

55KM TO GO

More attacks are flying out of the lead group as they continue to play games. Jorgenson, Woods, Lutsenko, Burgaudeau and Gregaard have separated away with Berthet chasing them down. 

Jorgensen is now all alone at the head of the race. The 24-year-old American has 12 seconds over the chasers for now as Boivin begins to drop off the back of the peloton. 

We're seeing some images of 400m from the finish line where rubber mats are having to be applied over a portion of road where the riders will have to cross over the rail tracks that lead up to the summit of the Puy de Dôme. Finishing touches are being applied before we see a Tour de France peloton race up the fabled climb for the first time in 35 years. 

It's nearly Puy de Dôme time. We're just under 27km away from the foot of our final climb, a mythical ascent with a long history in the Tour de France. We thought we might never race up here again, but organisers have found a way to return this nostalgic climb to the greatest bike race, albeit 35 years after it was last seen. 

Mohorič is trying to bridge the 30 second gap to Jorgenson at the head to the race. All sorts of games are going on in this leading group. 

Here's a look at our lone leader, Jorgenson. The young American has had his career best season with a win at the Tour of Oman, a great Classics season and an impressive second place at the Tour de Romandie behind Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates). 

35KM TO GO

It's reportedly 34 degrees at the bottom of the Puy de Dôme. It's a good thing there's a rest day tomorrow as the riders are going to be exhausted after today's efforts in the sweltering heat. 

Mohorič is clearly having a great day on the bike and is utilising all of his descending skills and aerodynamic positioning to maximise his power. He keeps hitting the other three chasers and is trying to bridge the 15 seconds over to Jorgenson. 

Jorgenson finished in the top 5 of three Tour de France stages in 2022 and came so close to that maiden victory. He'll be desperate to continue on with his solo move out in front and grind away at his competitors on the final climb to stand atop a podium at La Grand Boucle. 

The gap to Jorgenson has gone out to 30 seconds again as the chasing quartet aren't making a concerted effort to chase him, but are instead taking turns to attack. The stop-start nature of their chase is hurting their chances. 

De la Cruz has dropped his chain at the worst moment on the downhill. He's been forced to stop and it will be so difficult to see him make it back into the chasing quartet. 

20KM TO GO

We've had an innocuous crash back in the peloton for Lars van den Berg (Groupama-FDJ) at the handover point of a musette. 

Jorgenson is doing a tremendous job of holding off the chasers for now with the gap stabilised at 37 seconds. He's been so good throughout 2023, but if he could pull of the win today that would be on a completely different level of incredible. 

Here we go, 35 years untouched by the Tour de France peloton and the Puy de Dôme is here. 13.3km at 7.7% average gradient. Can Jorgenson hold on? Or will someone from the chasing group come across and past him on the harshest gradient?

CURRENT SITUATION

The American out in front is trying to regulate his temperature with constant watering from his bidon. He's got 12km of all out climbing ahead of him and won't want to overheat.

The GC teams are going to have their own race around 10 minutes after the breakaway finishes, and they are beginning to position themselves as they complete the run into the base of the Puy de Dôme. 

There are reports of a motorbike crashing in front of the peloton at such high speeds in the group behind. The drama is non-stop today. 

10KM TO GO

The crowds are incredible on the lower slopes of the Puy de Dôme. It's no surprise to see such excitement with this legendary climb returning to its former glory again at the Tour de France. 

Powless is dancing on the pedals, but making no dent into his compatriot's advantage which still sits at 54 seconds. The third group on the road is a further minute behind them. 

Dsm-firmenich are setting it up in the GC group for their leader, Romain Bardet. He's from this area and will want to play a big role on home roads. 

Dylan van Baarle (Jumbo-Visma) has assumed his position back on the front of the peloton as one of the incredibly valuable and versatile riders that make up Jonas Vingegaard's mountain train. 

6KM TO GO

Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) is one of the first climbers to drop out of the peloton with the stage win no longer on offer. 

Here's what Jorgenson has left to content with. He's got a 1:12 advantage and is on the verge of joining the likes of Coppi, Bahamontes, Van Impe, Gimondi, Ocaña and Zoetemelk as riders that have won a Tour de France stage atop the Puy de Dôme. 

Jorgensons' got his final greeting from the magnificent crowds we see at the Tour each year as he heads onto the restricted section and begins his fight with the steepest sections to hold off the chasers and take victory. 

Van Aert is now leading the peloton with Kelderman in his wheel and Vingegaard sat further back to avoid eating any of the headwind that pushes into the peloton. Pogačar isn't far behind. 

Kuss is making his way back up the peloton as the hardest section approaches. He'd been out of position previously, but was moving very easily towards the business end of things. 

Jonny Weltz was the last winner up here in 1988 and it's looking like Matteo Jorgenson is going to going him on that illustrious list of winners as his advantage keeps increasing to now 1:23. 

Ben O'Connor (AG2R-Citroën) has been dropped form the peloton.

Mohorič has decided to leave his two companions in the chasing group and has set off in pursuit of Jorgenson on his own. Woods can be seen in the background coming across very quickly. 

2.5KM TO GO

Woods is absolutely flying up the Puy de Dôme for now as Mohorič's deficit to Jorgenson is falling to now 48 seconds.

Van Aert's turn on the front is done and UAE Team Emirates have now come to the front of the peloton.

Jumbo-Visma have retaken control with Kelderman and Kuss the only remaining domestiques for Vingegaard. They are driving it on now in a small peloton with only the strongest GC riders left. 

Jorgenson's gap is rapidly falling, It's going to be touch and go on the line if he Woods and Mohorič can continue to eat into his advantage. Can the young American hold on?

Its completely split in the peloton with Kuss hitting the front and pulling away only the strongest climbers in Vingegaard, Pogačar and Simon Yates. 

1.2KM TO GO

Jorgenson only has 20 seconds and Woods is closing in. The Canadian is absolutely destroying these steeper slopes and Woods is the strongest. He's got him in his sights. 

Its blown to pieces in the GC group with Bardet and Hindley both dropped. 

Woods is so close to Jorgenson. He's going to get him, but does the American have anything left to give in response. He's going to fly by him surely. 

Woods gets out of the saddle and kicks out of Jorgenson's wheel in the final 400m. Heartbreak for the American with so little left to ride on this legendary climb. Woods is going to write his name eternally into Tour de France history. What a climbing performance. 

STAGE FINISH

We've seen both the beautiful joy and painful brutality this sport so often provides for both Woods and Jorgenson respectively. A great day for North American cycling nonetheless. 

We've got a leading group of five in the GC group with Vingegaard, Pogačar, Yates, Rodríguez and Simon Yates. Yates picks it up on the front for a moment with Hindley dropped. 

Hindley is coming back which is forcing Yates into action especially after he lost time yesterday due to a late crash. Pogačar goes!

Here it is, the battle between our two main favourites and a gap is appearing in-between Vingegaard and Pogačar. Can the Dane hold on? He's looking behind him and beginning to drop. 

Vingegaard is by no means cracking, but he's not onto the wheel yet. It's our two protagonists battling it out on the Puy de Dôme, it's what we wanted, every second is going to count. 

The Slovenian kicks again with 500m to go on the steepest gradients. Vingegaard is measuring his effort well, but is going to lose time on stage 9. Can Vingegaard respond?

Here's a look at our stage winner, Woods on his career best victory. 

Pogačar enters the sunshine in the final few hundred and is sprinting on the final ramp to the line. he's emptying the tank over the line and he crosses the line with a big statement made. Vingegaard recovered well for a loss of around 8 seconds. 

Yates ands Pidcock have left Rodríguez and are the next best out of the GC group. Great performance by the young Brit and his experienced compatriot. 

Gaudu crosses the line with damage done to his time on GC. The rest of the GC group are coming over in dribs and drabs. 

Here's what a despondent Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) had to say after having his heart broken by Michael Woods and finishing fourth on a stage he led for so long:

"Yeah, I had to play my hand a little bit early, I knew if I went in that group I wouldn't be able to match Mike Woods and Neilson [Powless] I thought. So I knew that I had to either get in a small group or solo and ended up getting solo. From there I went all in and in the end, you just have to hope that behind they blow up or whatever cos a minute from the bottom of that climb wasn't enough, but I did what I could."

"To be honest, the radio didn't work the whole of the climb. As soon as we started around the corner, the cars were at the bottom and I didn't have any radio, so the only time gap I had was the Moto and yeah he was telling me a minute, then 40 seconds, then 35, and 35 was the last one I got with I don't know, 1k to go and I just started to feel empty with 1k to go and then before I knew it Mike was there and passing me and it was a surprise but there was absolutely nothing I could do,"

Here's how Michael Woods reacted to achieving his career win and writing his name into eternal cycling history by winning on the Puy de Dôme:

"I'm still having a pinch myself moment. Really proud of myself, really proud of my team yeah, this is special."

"It was deafening until I got to about 4k to go, I couldn't hear anything and then all of a sudden silence. My ears were still ringing and I had a lot of time to think, a lot of time to suffer and just looking up the road trying to make as much time up on Jorgenson."

"Yeah for sure, I'm 36 years old, turning 37 this year and not getting any younger. I've always talked about winning a stage at the Tour de France and I've finally achieved it. I just feel so fortunate to have so many great people behind me, my family, my team, Sylvain Adams and also my parents, my wife my kids. They've all supported me. I've had some tough times over the last year, but I'm back on top and really proud."

"I wish I could say it was all planned. I wanted to be with Jorgenson in front, but it was just the way the cards played. It was really challenging when I knew I was probably the most marked man in that group and I ended up not playing my cards super right, but just had to be patient."

"Then when I got to 4k to go I didn't really even think about going for the win, I just thought about doing a time trial to the top and then however hard I went, didn't matter the result, I'd just be proud of myself and my hardest was able to bring back Jorgenson so it was nice."

We had some movements on the GC today with Vingegaard losing 8 seconds to Pogačar. His lead in yellow is now only 17 seconds and is poised for an incredible battle in the second and third weeks of the 2023 Tour de France. Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) also made a significant move from ninth to seventh overall by hanging onto the best climbers and Gaudu and Bardet fell to eighth and tenth overall respectively. 

After a first week like no other I've ever seen, the 110th Tour de France is poised perfectly as we head into the first rest day. The teams and riders will be recovering after a brutal opening nine stages and getting ready for more as we start to head towards the Alps. Clermond-Ferrand will play host to our 169 remaining riders and all the other staff involved tomorrow in central France with 12 stages left to complete. What other stories and drama will the second and third week hold?

Make sure to check back to Cyclingnews' website as more content is produced from the team on the ground at the race over the next week and beyond. After the rest day, we'll return to racing on stage 10 with a hilly 167.2km stage from Vulcania to Issoire. 

That wraps things up for Cyclingnews' coverage of stage 9 of the 2023 Tour de France. What a stage it was and what a battle we witnessed on the Puy de Dôme's first return to the Tour since 1988. Michael Woods wrote his name into history and Tadej Pogačar made another small dent into Jonas Vingegaard's lead at the head of the race. Read Peter Stuart's full report below for an excellent summary of the day's action and make sure to check back tomorrow for all the news coming out on the rest day.

Tour de France: Michael Woods triumphs with stage 9 victory atop Puy de Dôme

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