UAE issue health update and dismiss concerns over Isaac Del Toro

The Emirati team offered a cautious update on the health of their riders before Stage 19 of the Tour de France, with sporting manager Joxean Matxin Fernández describing the situation inside the team as largely unchanged.

The race leader’s team has been hit by illness at a crucial stage of the Tour. Brandon McNulty abandoned the race on Thursday, while Tim Wellens and Adam Yates have both struggled with illness in recent days. Florian Vermeersch has also admitted that he is being hampered by an injury.

“Our situation is more or less the same as yesterday,” Matxin told Sporza before the start in Gap. “Tim has some pain and a few problems, so for him it will be another day of survival.”

There was more encouraging news concerning Yates, one of Pogačar’s most important mountain domestiques.

“Adam is doing better,” Matxin added. “He has taken a step forward and that is good news. But generally, the situation is almost unchanged.”

Matxin also confirmed that Pogačar has not been affected by the illness spreading through the team. Asked whether the yellow jersey was still feeling well, the Spaniard replied simply: “Yes, he is healthy.”

The update comes after a day of confusing and, at times, contradictory communication from the UAE camp.

Wellens had openly admitted that he was suffering from a sore throat and cold symptoms, and his condition deteriorated significantly during Stage 18. The Belgian finished only just inside the time limit and said he would probably have abandoned in almost any other race.

“In any other race, you would stop, but you do not do that in the Tour,” Wellens told Sporza. “I am happy that I made it to the finish.”

Matxin nevertheless played down the suggestion that illness had caused Wellens’ difficult afternoon. He claimed that the Belgian had deliberately eased off after completing his work for the team.

“He is not sick,” he told Eurosport. “After he had done his job and was dropped, it was better to recover.”

That explanation appeared difficult to reconcile with Wellens’ own account and his visibly weakened condition at the finish. Speaking with a hoarse voice, he described the closing kilometres as a solitary battle against elimination.

“Towards the end, I rode a time trial all the way to the finish,” he said.

Matxin was far more emphatic when asked about rumours that Isaac Del Toro had also fallen ill.

The Mexican remains third overall, 6 minutes and 51 seconds behind Pogačar, and finished alongside the leading general classification contenders on Thursday.

“He finished near the front with the favourites yesterday, didn’t he?” the Spaniard said with a laugh. “There is no better evidence than the results.”

Del Toro’s condition could become an important factor on the road to Alpe d’Huez. Paul Seixas sits just 20 seconds behind him in fourth place, giving Decathlon CMA CGM a clear incentive to put pressure on UAE’s reduced support team.

Remco Evenepoel, second overall at 4 minutes and 32 seconds, acknowledged that UAE’s difficulties could create opportunities. The Belgian is not, however, prepared to sacrifice his own podium position by launching an uncontrolled attack.

“We still have to look at that,” Evenepoel said when asked whether he would try to exploit UAE’s weakness. “I am not going to take crazy risks and put my second place in danger.”

Instead, Evenepoel expects Decathlon to take responsibility for testing Del Toro.

“I think a team like Decathlon will now pull out all the stops to attack Del Toro’s third place,” he said. “They may try to find out whether he is suffering from illness as well.”

Matxin accepted that UAE’s rivals would look to take advantage of the situation.

“They know something is not quite right, and they have every right to play their cards,” he said. “We will remain attentive and we will keep fighting.”

Despite starting with one fewer rider, UAE believe the severity of the 127.9 kilometre stage from Gap to Alpe d’Huez will make team strength less decisive as the race approaches the final climb.

“Even though we have one rider less, today will bring a natural selection,” Matxin said. “The form and the legs will speak. Every rider wants to win on this mythical mountain, and that applies to us as well.”