‘In any other race, you would stop’ - Exhausted Wellens beats time limit as UAE manager denies illness

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider crossed the line at Orcières Merlette 43 minutes and two seconds behind stage winner Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost). That left him just two minutes and 15 seconds inside the time limit.

Wellens had already revealed before the stage that he was struggling with illness, including a sore throat and cold symptoms. His condition quickly deteriorated on the road, and he was dropped early as the race headed towards the day’s decisive climbs.

After receiving support in the gruppetto, the Belgian was eventually left to continue alone, riding only a short distance ahead of the broom wagon.

Visibly exhausted and speaking with a weak, hoarse voice after the finish, Wellens admitted that he would probably have abandoned under different circumstances.

“In any other race, you would stop, but you do not do that in the Tour,” Wellens told Sporza. “I am happy that I made it to the finish.”

With the time limit approaching, Wellens said the closing section of the stage became an individual race against the clock.

“I received a lot of help in the gruppetto, and towards the end I rode a time trial all the way to the finish,” he said.

UAE manager Joxean Fernández Matxin, however, denied that Wellens’ difficult day had been caused by illness.

“He is not sick,” Matxin told Eurosport. “After he had done his thing and was dropped, it was better to recover. Today was a breakaway stage in which we were not going for the win. In that case, it is better to recover.”

Matxin’s explanation contrasted with Wellens’ own comments before and after the stage, as well as the Belgian’s visibly weakened condition at the finish.

Wellens’ struggle came on a difficult day for UAE Team Emirates XRG, with illness affecting several of Tadej Pogačar’s key support riders.

Brandon McNulty was also dropped early and spent more than 50 kilometres riding alone near the back of the race before abandoning. Adam Yates had already been hampered by illness earlier in the week, although Wellens said the British climber appeared to be recovering.

“It is unfortunate that Brandon was in a worse condition than I was,” Wellens said. “He had to abandon. Adam had fewer problems than me today, so I hope I can do the same as him tomorrow.”

Despite the health concerns within the team, Wellens stressed that race leader Pogačar had not shown any signs of illness.

“Fortunately, Tadej has nothing, and I hope it stays that way,” he said. “It is clear that there is illness in the team, but it is very positive that Tadej is not having any problems.”

Wellens’ survival means UAE retain an experienced road captain for the final mountain stages, although his condition ahead of the Alpe d’Huez double header remains uncertain.