Tour de France: Pogacar Faces Illness Scare as Team Struggles 2026

The Tour de France leader Tadej Pogacar faces a serious illness scare within his UAE Team Emirates XRG, threatening his dominant position in the race. After a virus swept through the team following Monday's rest day, key riders have abandoned or struggled, raising concerns about Pogacar's support in the final mountain stages.

Illness Hits UAE Team Emirates Hard

Richard Carapaz won stage 18 of the Tour de France after a breakaway group duelled their way to Orcières-Merlette, but the spotlight remains on Pogacar's health and that of his teammates. Adam Yates endured a difficult stage on the road to Voiron, and American rider Brandon McNulty abandoned the race with 21km remaining in stage 18. Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch also showed signs of illness during the stage, which included five categorised climbs and the challenging ascent to the finish.

Speaking at the stage start in Voiron, Wellens confirmed he had a sore throat and suggested others were unwell. Despite Pogacar's commanding 4m 32s lead over second-placed Remco Evenepoel, the upcoming mountain-top finishes on Alpe d'Huez pose a serious threat if the team's strength continues to weaken.

Pogacar's Reaction and Strategy

“I’m sad that Brandon could not finish. We will see in the next two days but Adam is getting better, and tomorrow, we will go with the flow,” Pogacar said. “I think we can manage. It’s the third week, all the teams are suffering. There are bodies everywhere on a stage like today. We will keep fighting and I believe we can do it.”

Pogacar also swapped his usual yellow shorts for black, fueling speculation about the severity of the illness. McNulty's abandonment may also be linked to injuries from being hit by a car during reconnaissance of Tuesday's time trial. The full extent of the virus remains unclear.

Comparison of Key Riders' Stage 18 Performance

What This Means for the Overall Classification

With two mountain-top finishes remaining, including the iconic Alpe d'Huez, Pogacar's yellow jersey could be at risk if his teammates cannot help pace him. However, his time lead is substantial, and he remains the strongest individual rider. The race is now as much about medical fitness as cycling prowess.

Richard Carapaz, the former Giro d'Italia champion, narrowly avoided a collision with an errant fan during the stage but recovered to win with a gutsy lone attack. He is not a direct threat to Pogacar's overall lead but demonstrates the chaotic conditions of week three.

Key Takeaways

• Illness has hit UAE Team Emirates, causing one abandonment and several riders struggling.
• Pogacar's lead is 4m 32s, but support may dwindle in the final mountain stages.
• McNulty's abandonment also relates to previous injuries from a car accident.
• The Tour de France enters decisive stages with Alpe d'Huez climbs ahead.

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