Belgium’s Tim Merlier won his second stage at this year’s Tour de France on Sunday, outsprinting Jonathan Milan and Arnaud De Lie in Châteauroux, but the real story of the day was an incredible day-long break from Alpecin-Deceuninck pair Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert.

The first week of the Tour de France has been packed with action, but after ten intense days of racing, one thing is clear: performance in pro cycling doesn’t pay nearly as well as you’d think. According to the official jury report after stage 10,

Tim Merlier powered past Jonathan Milan to win stage nine of the Tour de France on Sunday, denying the green jersey holder back-to-back wins after Mathieu van der Poel's audacious solo attack ended in heartbreak just 700 metres from the finish.

Tadej Pogacar took the 100th victory of his stellar career on Tuesday, beating Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Vingegaard to win stage four of the Tour de France.

Race favourites Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard could clash on this undulating road to the finish line atop Puy de Sancy, the highest peak in France’s Massif Central region

Tadej Pogacar may be concentrating intensely on winning his fourth Tour de France, but in the middle of Saturday's stage eight he was just as focused on how his partner Urska Zigart was performing in the Giro d'Italia Women.

Two days later, on stage four to Rouen, Vingegaard resembled one of the world’s best puncheurs, as well as one of its best climbers. Following Pogacar’s attack in the closing kilometres, Vingegaard produced the best one-minute power effort of his career, matching the Slovenian’s famed acceleration.