The dominance of UAE and Pogacar: The peloton does not know what to make of it anymore

UAE Team Emirates-XRG controlled the 186 kilometre stage from Pau almost from the start. The team kept the early attacks within reach and then took command on the Col d’Aspin. On the Tourmalet, the pace increased again. 

The group of favourites became smaller with every turn until Isaac del Toro accelerated and Tadej Pogačar went clear with 43 kilometres remaining.

Jonas Vingegaard tried to limit the damage, but Pogačar continued to extend his lead after the summit. He reached the finish 2 minutes and 38 seconds ahead of the Dane. Del Toro finished third, giving UAE two riders on the stage podium. 

Pogačar also took the yellow jersey and now leads Vingegaard by 2 minutes and 42 seconds.

Behind him, riders and team managers were left searching for an explanation.

Alpecin-Premier Tech manager Philip Roodhooft did not expect the battle for the yellow jersey to open up this early. Speaking to Cyclism’Actu after the stage, he called Pogačar’s performance incredible, but admitted that the size of the gaps had surprised him.

“I have a lot of respect for what Tadej did, and also for the others, but the difference is so big. For me, it is surprising that this is already happening today.”

Roodhooft did not go as far as saying that the general classification had already been decided. For Alpecin-Premier Tech, the focus quickly shifted to the next opportunities, including a possible sprint for Jasper Philipsen in Bordeaux.

Julian Alaphilippe seemed less surprised by what he had seen. The Frenchman enjoyed the crowds on the Tourmalet, a climb that carries good memories for him. In 2018, he collected important mountain points there on his way to securing the polka dot jersey. A year later, he finished second behind Thibaut Pinot at the summit while wearing yellow.

When Cyclism’Actu asked whether Pogačar was continuing to push the limits of what a cyclist could do, Alaphilippe kept his answer brief.

“No. Nothing surprises me anymore.”

Ilan Van Wilder experienced UAE’s pace from inside the group. The Belgian finished fourteenth, but described the stage as “terrible” in an interview with Sporza.

“The pace on the Aspin was already scorching and the peloton was immediately torn apart. On the Tourmalet they started with a bizarrely hard pace that I could not handle.”

Van Wilder eventually chose his own rhythm and passed several riders later in the stage. His result was respectable, although it did little to reduce his disbelief.

“I do not understand it. I find it difficult to understand how you can be so dominant. And then that 40 kilometre solo by Pogačar. I cannot get my head around it. It is a fantastic performance.”

His conclusion was equally direct. Without bad luck for Pogačar, Van Wilder believes the Tour has already been decided.

Valentin Paret Peintre had already accepted what was likely to happen before the decisive attack. He told Cyclism’Actu that he rode the Tourmalet at his own pace because he expected Pogačar to attack and knew he would not be able to follow.

“It was written that Pogačar was going to attack. I knew I would not be able to follow him or even reach the top among the first ten.”

Paret Peintre was impressed by more than the final attack. He pointed to the work UAE had done earlier, controlling a difficult start before taking over completely in the mountains.

“The performance of the whole team was incredible. The start was really difficult and they still managed to control the peloton. Today, he was on another planet. I think he showed who the boss is.”

Stage 6 did not settle every position in the Tour de France. There are still difficult stages to come and the race remains vulnerable to crashes and illness. But after the Tourmalet, nobody in the peloton seemed to know how UAE and Pogačar were supposed to be beaten.