PARIS — Tadej Pogacar paid tribute to his UAE Emirates-XRG teammates after claiming a hard-won first-ever success on the iconic Alpe d’Huez climb at the Tour de France.
Illness had been spreading through the UAE camp since the beginning of the week, with Adam Yates suffering, Tim Wellens complaining of feeling ill, Florian Vermeersch saying he was carrying an injury, and Brandon McNulty pulling out of the race with flu-like symptoms.
And yet, once again, world champion Pogacar did the business when it mattered most.
“Adam was really, really bad. In the TT (time-trial) day he was white like a wall, and then he was better and better,” said the four-time Tour champion.
“Felix Grossschartner had to do all the work in the last few days because Tim was also feeling sick,” he added according to AFP.
“We stepped up again and they believed that we can win and they give it all again.”
And he added: “Even with the rough days of the last few days, the team spirit cannot be better and then when we win (it) is a reward for all.”
The victory was so important to the team that sporting director Matxin Joxean Fernandez was in tears at the end of the stage.
“Amazing! He’s an amazing guy, amazing person, amazing champion, amazing team, amazing spirit,” he said.
“Thank you for all (the) guys, for the compromise, for the attitude, for the belief, always belief and always staying the super, super champion and super leader.
