UAE Team Emirates suffered a major setback on the ninth stage of the Tour de France when João Almeida, Tadej Pogacar’s principal mountain domestique, abandoned the race. The 26-year-old Portuguese rider stepped off his bike after 89 kilometres of the 174.1-kilometre stage from Chinon to Châteauroux, unable to continue with the fractured rib and abrasions he sustained in a crash two days earlier. Despite the loss, Pogacar retained the yellow jersey. The Slovenian finished safely in the peloton and maintains a 54-second advantage over Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, with France’s Kévin Vauquelin third at 1 minute 11 seconds. The flat stage ended in a bunch sprint won by Belgium’s Tim Merlier of Soudal Quick-Step, who claimed his second victory of this year’s race by edging Italy’s Jonathan Milan. Monday’s hilly 165.3-kilometre route to Mont-Dore precedes the first rest day of the 112th edition.