Pogacar loses Brandon McNulty to illness on first day of Tour's Alpine finale
The American was reported to be struggling with illness, and he spent more than 50km alone at the back of the race before abandoning the Tour de France on stage 18. With Adam Yates also hampered by illness, there are questions surrounding Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad ahead of the Alpe d'Huez doubleheader.
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Brandon McNulty has abandoned the Tour de France due to illness after being dropped early on stage 18 to Orcières-Merlette. The American is the first rider from yellow jersey Tadej Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad to abandon the race.
McNulty was in visible difficulty on the day’s first climb, the category 1 Côte d’Engins, and he was distanced by the peloton shortly afterwards. He spent more than 50km riding alone in front of the broom wagon before he eventually succumbed to the inevitable and abandoned the race.
He had already suffered a crash ahead of Tuesday’s time trial, when a motorist braked suddenly in front of him as he rode to the start.
McNulty’s abandon raises questions about the overall health of Pogačar’s supporting cast. Adam Yates had struggled stage 17, with the Briton coming in more than 25 minutes down after reportedly falling ill following Monday’s rest day. UAE have taken provisions in recent days to keep Yates isolated from the rest of his teammates.
Prior to stage 18, Tim Wellens admitted that he had also been hampered by a mild illness, though he downplayed its likely impact on the team’s ability to defend Pogačar’s yellow jesey. “We are mostly healthy,” Wellens told Sporza. “Adam is not feeling well, and I am not feeling great either. I have a sore throat, mucus and I do not feel completely right, but more than half of our team is still in top form.”
Wellens insisted, however, that Pogačar himself was not among the riders suffering from illness. “Tadej still looks very good,” he said.
UAE had kept breakaways on a tight leash earlier in this Tour, but it was striking that they were content to allow the escapees considerable leeway on the first day in the Alps, with the yellow jersey group reaching the final climb six minutes down on the leaders.
Pogačar’s teammates Yates, Wellens, McNulty and Florian Vermeersch were all distanced from the yellow jersey group ahead of the final ascent.
The Slovenian held an imposing 4:32 overall lead on Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) ahead of the Tour’s entry into the Alps.
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