Pogacar tells Visma to make green jersey choice between Van Aert and Brennan

After claiming his third stage victory of the race in Castelló, Pogačar strengthened his lead in the points classification. Wout van Aert limited the damage by taking maximum points at the intermediate sprint and moving into second place. 

With Pogačar already wearing the red jersey as overall race leader, Van Aert will therefore start stage 7 in green as the highest placed rider in the points classification not already wearing another classification jersey.

The gap between the pair now stands at 33 points, with Pogačar on 102 and Van Aert on 69. But Visma | Lease a Bike have more than one rider near the top of the classification. Matthew Brennan sits third with 60 points, while Christophe Laporte is also close behind on 52.

That depth prompted Pogačar to question how Visma intend to approach the competition over the remaining two weeks.

"They are going for the green jersey with two riders in the team," Pogačar told Sporza. "There are so many points available and there are still 15 stages. They have to decide who they want to take the jersey with."

From Visma's perspective, however, the distinction appears clearer. Van Aert has openly identified the points classification as a goal, while Brennan has primarily focused on stage victories.

Van Aert showed that intent again on stage 6. The Belgian joined the breakaway and, once it became clear that the move would not be given enough freedom to fight for the stage, shifted his attention towards the intermediate sprint.

"Those points became the main goal because we weren't given much room," Van Aert told Sporza afterwards. "I could already feel that the break wasn't going to get much freedom."

He took the full 20 points before dropping back as UAE Team Emirates-XRG increased the pace behind. Pogačar eventually reeled in the remaining attackers before making his move on the final climb.Enric Mas managed to bridge across, but the Slovenian still came out on top despite a brief off road moment on the descent in the finale.

Van Aert had not yet studied where the intermediate sprint would come on stage 7, but acknowledged that collecting points along the way could become increasingly important.

"It's a good way to pick up points, but Tadej wins again today," he said.

That is the problem facing Van Aert. Pogačar is collecting points almost automatically while racing for stage wins and the general classification, making him an unusually difficult opponent in the green jersey competition.

"For now it's about getting into second place," Van Aert concluded with a smile.