Mathieu van der Poel Wins Stage Nine of Tour de France

Mathieu van der Poel 贏得環法單車賽第九段

Jul 12, 2026, 17:21
EuropeSports

Introduction

Mathieu van der Poel won the ninth stage of the Tour de France. The race was shorter because the weather was very hot.

Mathieu van der Poel 贏得了環法單車賽的第九段。由於天氣非常炎熱，賽程有所縮短。

Main Body

The weather was almost 40 degrees Celsius. The race was 30 kilometers shorter. Mathieu van der Poel rode fast on a hill and won the race.

天氣幾乎達到 40 度。賽程縮短了 30 公里。Mathieu van der Poel 在上坡路段騎行迅速，贏得了比賽。

Tadej Pogacar is the leader of the race. He says the weather is too hot. He wants the race to start earlier in the morning to keep riders safe.

Tadej Pogacar 是目前的領跑者。他表示天氣太熱，希望比賽能更早於早晨開始，以確保車手的安全。

Teams use ice and cold water to cool the riders. One team used a very cold machine. Some riders say the race is still too hard in the heat.

車隊使用冰塊和冷水來為車手降溫。其中一支車隊使用了一台極冷設備。部分車手表示，在酷熱之中比賽依然非常艱苦。

Conclusion

Tadej Pogacar is still the leader. Now the riders have a day to rest.

Tadej Pogacar 依然是領跑者。現在車手們有一天的休息時間。

Vocabulary Learning

The 'Too' Trick

In the text, we see: *"The weather is too hot." *"The race is still too hard."

What does it mean? When we use too before a describing word, it means 'more than we want' or 'a problem'.

  • Hot = Warm (Good/Okay) →\rightarrow Too hot = A problem (Bad)
  • Hard = Challenging (Good/Okay) →\rightarrow Too hard = A problem (Bad)

Try these simple swaps:

  • Expensive →\rightarrow Too expensive (I cannot buy it)
  • Small →\rightarrow Too small (It does not fit)

Simple Past vs. Now

Look at how the story changes time:

Yesterday/Past →\rightarrow Now/Present

  • Won →\rightarrow Is
  • Was →\rightarrow Is
  • Rode →\rightarrow Have

Example: "The race was shorter" (Finished) →\rightarrow "Tadej is the leader" (Right now).

Vocabulary Learning

stage (n.)
One part of a long race
Example:The cyclist won the first stage of the race.
leader (n.)
The person who is winning or in first place
Example:Tadej Pogacar is the leader of the Tour de France.
earlier (adv.)
Before the usual time
Example:I wake up earlier in the summer.
safe (adj.)
Not in danger
Example:Please wear a helmet to stay safe.
machine (n.)
A piece of equipment with moving parts
Example:The washing machine is very loud.
rest (v.)
To stop working or moving to get energy back
Example:The players need to rest after the game.
Practice A2 words in a crossword→