“It’s mad, we are supposed to be helping him [Evenepoel] but he’s helping us,” Merlier said.

On a sun-drenched slog from the Chinon vineyards, Van der Poel and a teammate broke early and built up a lead of 5 minutes and 30 seconds on the flat roads to Châteauroux.

Nearly made it

“It’s hard to not be able to finish it off, but we put on a good show,” the Dutch rider said.

Belgian Tim Wellens of UAE Team Emirates, Spanish Marc Soler of UAE Team Emirates and Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates pictured in action during stage nine. Source: AAP / Jasper Jacobs / Belga / Sipa USA

As Van der Poel was reeled in, it looked as though Jonathan Milan would win a second consecutive stage, but Merlier got ahead with 30m remaining as Milan finished second, with Arnaud De Lie completing the podium.

“It’s a big loss, he was in good shape. He’s our hero. I was suffering today, so I understand how he must have felt. Every respect to him,” the Slovenian said.