Pogacar praises GC rivals for safer approach to Tour de France sprint finishes

Speaking after Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) sprinted to his second consecutive stage victory on Saturday, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) explained how the  GC contenders had reached an informal agreement to stay away from the frantic battle for position in the closing kilometres of sprint stages. 

The approach allows the sprint teams room to fight for victory while protecting the overall contenders from unnecessary danger.

"I must also say that the 5km rule makes quite a big difference in the sprint stages because now there's kind of an agreement that we sit in the back, the GC riders, and we keep calm, and it's much less stressful,” said Pogačar. 

"There's always going to be a possibility for crashes, but I think we managed pretty well. So, thanks to all the GC contenders as well for this respect. So far, it's one of the most enjoyable Tours, except for the heat."

Visma | Lease a Bike adopted the approach earlier this season with Jonas Vingegaard at races such as Paris-Nice, the Volta a Catalunya and the Giro d’Italia. 

Sports director Marc Reef said the Dutch team analysed data from previous bunch sprints and decided that the risk and effort required to fight for position alongside the sprint teams was not worth it. 

"We have seen that we always use a lot of energy because we are afraid something might happen," Reef told IDLProCycling.

"We looked back at crashes in which general-classification riders actually lost time. Over the past seven or eight years, that appears to have happened only once. When you compare that with the energy required to stay at the front and consider the riders we have available, we believe you have a better overview from the back of the peloton."

Reef also explained that the introduction of the five-kilometre safety rule, extended from three kilometres for this year's Tour, has reinforced the tactic. He also described how the team communicates during the tense run-in to sprint finishes.

"That is beginning to happen now. Tadej Pogačar has been riding at the back, and we regularly saw Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe doing it during the Giro d'Italia as well," Reef said.

“When the stress increases, Jonas makes the call, and we move to the back together. The precise moment varies each time. It gives us far more than it costs us,” added Reef. 

After eight stages, three of which ended in bunch sprints, Pogačar leads the general classification by 2:42 over Vingegaard, while Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) sits third overall at 3:27.