Pogacar denies handing Evenepoel victory: ‘I simply didn’t have the answer I hoped for’
Tadej Pogacar was unequivocal after Remco Evenepoel beat him in a direct uphill battle at Plateau de Solaison. The Tour leader had not gifted the Belgian the victory, nor had he held anything back. On this occasion, he had simply been beaten.
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“I have no regrets,” Pogačar said at the press conference in quotes collected by HLN. “In the end, Remco was just better in the sprint. He went early, he sprinted very strongly and I simply didn’t have the answer I hoped for.”
It was a rare sight in this Tour. Pogačar has made a habit of controlling the most demanding stages and finishing them off himself, but Evenepoel stayed with him in the closing kilometres before producing the stronger acceleration at the finish.
Pogačar responded with admiration rather than excuses.
“Chapeau to him,” the Slovenian said. “Sometimes he just needs a boost in confidence, and today he showed that he is a rocket.”
The world champion did add some context. Compared with the previous day, the stage had placed less cumulative strain on the riders, allowing the favourites to preserve more energy for one decisive effort near the summit.
“The stage was less demanding than yesterday,” Pogačar explained. “We were able to save more energy early on and prepare for one big effort at the end. We will have to see what happens when several climbs come one after another.”
Nevertheless, the Slovenian remains wary of the Belgian ahead of the final week of the Tour: “He is going to be a pain in the ass next week. A big contender.”
There was also some confusion inside the UAE camp during the finale. Isaac Del Toro attacked when Pogačar had apparently expected him to contest the sprint himself.
“There may have been some miscommunication,” Pogačar admitted. “I actually wanted Isaac to sprint, but he attacked. I tried to give everything and push him on, but it is difficult to communicate with so many people around.”
Red Bull hails Evenepoel’s progress
The moment prompted questions over whether Pogačar had been more concerned with Del Toro than with pursuing the stage victory. Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe sports chief Zak Dempster did not dismiss that factor entirely, but he also rejected the suggestion that Evenepoel had simply been allowed to win.
“Pogačar was clearly occupied with Del Toro,” Dempster told Sporza. “But I don’t think it was for nothing that he had to let a gap open when Del Toro attacked.”
Inside the Red Bull team, there was a mixture of satisfaction and surprise. Evenepoel had arrived at the finish with Pogačar and then beaten the dominant rider of the Tour on climbing terrain, an outcome even his own team had not predicted.
“When you can beat Tadej Pogačar uphill, you are entitled to call it a special performance,” Dempster said. “This is a beautiful day for Remco and for the team.”
Dempster believes Evenepoel’s switch to Red Bull and a new coach is now paying off.
“We had to start again from zero,” he said. “It is great to see the best version of Remco here.”
The Belgian will be among the favourites for Tuesday’s time trial, but the team is not yet talking about overall victory. Red Bull is also sticking with shared leadership alongside Florian Lipowitz.
“Remco is better placed, but we want to keep both riders close,” Dempster said.
At Plateau de Solaison, however, the conclusion was simple: Pogačar tried to win, but Evenepoel had the better answer.
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