L'Alpe d'Huez (France) (AFP) – Tadej Pogacar paid tribute to his UAE Emirates-XRG team-mates after claiming a hard-won first ever success on the iconic Alpe d'Huez climb at the Tour de France on Friday.
Issued on: 24/07/2026 - 19:36
3 min Reading time
Illness had been spreading through the UAE camp since the beginning of the week, with Adam Yates suffering particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday, Tim Wellens complaining of feeling ill, Florian Vermeersch saying he was carrying an injury, and Brandon McNulty pulling out of the race on Thursday with flu-like symptoms.And yet, once again, world champion Pogacar did the business when it mattered most."Adam was really, really bad. In the TT (time-trial) day he was white like a wall, and then he was better and better," said the four-time Tour champion."Felix Grossschartner had to do all the work in the last few days because Tim was also feeling sick."Brandon (left the race) yesterday... it's just been a little bit rough with the guys not feeling themselves."But today we stepped up again and they believed that we can win and they give it all again."And he added: "Even with the rough days of the last few days, the team spirit cannot be better and then when we win (it) is a reward for all."The victory was so important to the team that sporting director Matxin Joxean Fernandez was in tears at the end of the stage."Amazing! He's an amazing guy, amazing person, amazing champion, amazing team, amazing spirit," he said.
