'You pull with everyone except for me': Van Aert's joke to Pogacar ends with unexpected gift
Tadej Pogacar and Wout van Aert shared a lighthearted exchange after stage 2 of the Vuelta a España, joking about the Slovenian refusing to take a turn during Van Aert’s late attack before Pogacar gifted his red sunglasses to the Belgian’s young son, Georges.
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Van Aert attacked with 1.6km remaining to the finish in Manosque, looking to put himself in contention for the stage win and potentially take the red jersey from Pogačar, having started the stage nine seconds from the race leader.
The Slovenian immediately responded to the move but declined to come through and pull on the front. With Van Aert unable to extend the gap alone, the peloton closed in, and the attack was neutralised inside the final kilometre.
Pogačar ultimately finished third, while Van Aert’s Visma teammate Matthew Brennan powered to his first Grand Tour stage victory in the sprint.
After the finish, there was no animosity between the two riders. The duo embraced and joked about the late attack, with Van Aert playfully ribbing Pogačar for refusing to take a turn.
“You pull with everyone except for me,” Van Aert joked.
Pogačar responded with an apology, and the pair shared a handshake and a laugh.
“I should commit, sorry,” Pogačar said.
The good-natured exchange ended with Pogačar gifting his red sunglasses to Georges van Aert, the Visma star’s young son.
“I hope I made his day with that,” Pogačar told Sporza.
After two stages, the world champion leads Van Aert by nine seconds in the GC, with Brennan in third at ten seconds from the red jersey.
Result: Vuelta a España stage 2
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