The Tour de France has been shaken by a virus that is sweeping through Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates XRG, raising serious concerns for the race leader's support crew as the peloton heads into decisive mountain stages.
Illness Sweeps UAE Team Emirates After Rest Day
Since Monday's rest day, a bug has infiltrated the team. Adam Yates endured a stage-long calvary on the road to Voiron, and American Brandon McNulty abandoned the race with 21 km left on Thursday's stage 18. Two other key domestiques, Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch, also showed signs of struggle throughout the five-categorized-climb stage. Wellens admitted to a sore throat and hinted that other riders were unwell.
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Impact on Pogacar's Lead
Despite his commanding 4-minute 32-second lead over second-placed Remco Evenepoel, Pogacar has reason to worry. The upcoming back-to-back mountain finishes on Alpe d'Huez will test not only his legs but also the strength of his depleted squad. “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.
The full extent of the illness remains unknown, but speculation grew when Pogacar swapped his usual yellow shorts for black – an unusual move that fueled rumors. McNulty's abandonment may also stem from injuries sustained when he was hit by a car during time trial reconnaissance.
Carapaz Wins Stage 18 Amid Chaos
Richard Carapaz, the former Giro d'Italia champion, took the stage 18 victory after a breakaway of six riders dueled to the winter sports station at Orcières-Merlette. He narrowly avoided a collision with an errant fan earlier in the stage but recovered to launch a gutsy solo attack and win. Carapaz also won a mountain stage at nearby Superdévoluy in 2024.
Remaining Mountain Stages Comparison
| Stage | Finish | Climbs | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Alpe d'Huez | 2 HC, 1 Cat.1 | Extreme |
| 20 | Time Trial (flat) | None | Moderate |
| 21 | Paris (Champs-Élysées) | None | Easy |
The virus could turn the tide if Pogacar loses key helpers on the brutal slopes of Alpe d'Huez. Evenepoel's Soudal-Quick Step team remains relatively healthy and could exploit any weakness.
Key Takeaways
- UAE Team Emirates has been hit by a viral illness after the second rest day.
- Brandon McNulty abandoned due to a combination of illness and injury from a car accident.
- Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch showed visible struggles during stage 18.
- Richard Carapaz won stage 18 with a solo attack.
- Pogacar's 4m 32s lead may be at risk if his domestiques cannot support him on Alpe d'Huez.
FAQ
Is Tadej Pogacar sick with the virus?
Pogacar has not reported being ill himself, but several teammates are suffering from a virus. He stated that Adam Yates is getting better and that he believes the team can manage.
How will the illness affect the Tour de France outcome?
If key domestiques like Yates, Wellens, or Vermeersch cannot provide full support on the Alpe d'Huez stage, Pogacar may be isolated early, giving rivals like Remco Evenepoel an opportunity to attack and reduce the time gap.
What caused Brandon McNulty to abandon the race?
McNulty abandoned with 21 km to go in stage 18, likely due to a combination of illness and injuries sustained when a car hit him during his time trial reconnaissance earlier in the week.
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