Matxín: 'Pogacar produced a masterpiece, a work of art now part of cycling history' after UAE 1-2

UAE Team Emirates-XRG general manager Matxín Joxean Fernández has praised his team’s unity following a masterclass performance on stage 2 of the Tour de France, where debutant Isaac del Toro took a statement victory ahead of teammate Tadej Pogačar.

It was a finish initially expected to suit the primary GC contenders, but it rapidly turned into a UAE exhibition after a hot, selective day on the punchy Barcelona circuit, where Del Toro judged the fractured finale perfectly. Carrying momentum around a corner inside the final kilometre as the road rose toward the finish line, the Mexican Champion increased the tempo with what initially looked to be a lead-out for Pogačar.

However, Del Toro opened up an advantage and in the final metres, Pogačar repeatedly looked back to assess the threat posed by chasing rivals Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). In the end, the World Champion never attempted to come around his teammate, crossing the line in second place to seal the UAE one-two while Del Toro celebrated an emotional victory on his Tour debut.

Del Toro’s raw emotion at the finish underlined the immense significance of the moment. While this marked his 30th professional victory and his 10th of the 2026 season, it is easy to gloss over the fact that the Mexican powerhouse is still just 22 years old. His tears after the line provided a sharp reminder of just how prestigious winning a Tour de France stage truly is.

Speaking to Marca after the stage, Matxín was asked if the stunning finale had been pre-planned or if Pogačar’s supportive role was an ad-libbed decision.

“Was what happened planned? We had discussed various scenarios,” Matxín told Marca. “It is clear that Tadej produced a masterpiece, a true work of art that is now part of cycling history. That is Pogačar for you.”

The team boss was full of praise for how his riders handled the tricky and technical finale, emphasising that the performance was a perfect illustration of the team’s unity.

“Pure happiness, not just because of the win, but because of the team's conduct, their attitude, and above all, the sense of family: the atmosphere and that feeling that everyone helps and protects one another, sharing in the joy of victory whether it’s their own win or a teammate's,” he said.

Matxín concluded by highlighting Pogačar’s selflessness and the World Champion’s decision not to chase down his young Mexican teammate.

“Spectacular. Perfection, when achieved through victory, holds a special value. Today served as an example for all young cyclists: a rider needs to understand that sometimes, being happy for a teammate's win is just as important as winning oneself. That is how you learn to savor the triumph and, above all, the joy of victory.”

Heading into stage 3, Pogačar sits second overall, six seconds behind the race leader Jonas Vingegaard, while Del Toro is fourth at sixteen seconds from the yellow jersey.