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**Headline:** Almeida Abandons Tour de France, Leaving Pogačar Without Key Domestique
The 2025 Tour de France has taken another dramatic turn as João Almeida, a crucial domestique for Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG, has been forced to abandon the race due to injuries sustained in a high-speed crash on stage 7. Almeida, who had been in excellent form this season, was initially able to continue racing after fracturing a rib, but was ultimately dropped from the peloton during stage 9 and was unable to support Pogačar any further.
Pogačar, who remains in the yellow jersey and the overall race lead, will now have to navigate the rest of the Tour de France without one of his most important climbing allies. Almeida's departure is a significant setback for Pogačar's team, as he was a key lieutenant in the mountains, providing essential support in the grueling climbs.
The 10th stage of the Tour de France will head into the Massif Central with a 165.3 km route from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy, featuring 4,450 meters of elevation gain. This stage will include seven climbs of the second category, making it the most challenging single stage of the Tour to date.
Meanwhile, the sprint stages of the Tour de France are now over, with Tim Merlier winning the 9th stage in a mass sprint. Mathieu van der Poel and his teammate Jonas Rickaert posed major problems for the field with a surprising breakaway six kilometers from the finish, but ultimately failed to hold off the peloton.
In the general classification, Remco Evenepoel remains in second place, 54 seconds behind Pogačar. Despite the loss of Almeida, Pogačar's team will need to adapt their strategy accordingly as the race progresses, with the mountain stages looming large on the horizon.
The Tour de France continues to deliver drama and excitement, with the overall classification still wide open and the mountains yet to be conquered. Stay tuned for updates as the race continues.
Sports consistently challenge competitors with unexpected events, and the Tour de France is no exception. With João Almeida abandoning the race following his injuries, the tour of France has lost a key sportsman and Tadej Pogačar's main climbing ally, affecting the sports dynamics significantly.
