Tour de France worries emerge for Tadej Pogacar after illness sweeps through team

Summary

Richard Carapaz won stage 18 of the Tour de France, but the health of race leader Tadej Pogacar's UAE Emirates XRG team is a growing concern. Brandon McNulty abandoned the race due to illness, and Tim Wellens narrowly avoided elimination by the time cut, finishing with only two minutes to spare. Despite teammates suffering from illness, including Adam Yates with a stomach problem, Tadej Pogačar has downplayed the situation, stating that the team is not crumbling and putting a positive spin on the day. However, Pogacar finished the stage with only one teammate in the GC group.

Why it's important

The widespread illness within Tadej Pogacar's team could significantly impact his performance and chances of winning the Tour de France, as key teammates are sidelined or struggling.

Key Points

Wave of illness sweeps through UAE Emirates XRG team
Brandon McNulty abandons due to illness
Tim Wellens narrowly makes time cut
Tadej Pogačar downplays team health concerns

Key Narratives

Based on positions and claims visible in the cited sources. Missing viewpoints are not inferred as full national or institutional perspectives.

Tadej Pogačar

He has played down the severity of the illness within his team, attempting to maintain a positive outlook.

UAE Emirates XRG team

The team is suffering from a wave of illness, with key riders abandoning or struggling to meet time cuts.

Involved Entities

Tadej Pogacar, UAE Emirates XRG team, Richard Carapaz, Brandon McNulty, Tim Wellens

Sources (3)

Tour de France worries emerge for Tadej Pogacar after illness sweeps through team