McNulty withdrawal leaves major gap
UAE Team Emirates-XRG entered the final week of the Tour de France with the race under control. Tadej Pogacar held a commanding lead, while his team had repeatedly demonstrated its strength across almost every type of terrain.
That dominance is now being tested.
Brandon McNulty abandoned the race during Thursday’s 185.2 kilometre Stage 18 from Voiron to Orcières-Merlette after struggling with illness. The American had spent much of the stage alone near the back of the race before eventually climbing off his bike.
“It sucks to lose Brandon because he was such a valuable rider until now,” Pogacar said in the Tour de France’s official interview after Stage 18.
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McNulty’s difficult week had begun before the Stage 16 individual time trial. According to Cyclingnews reporter James Moultrie, he was knocked off his bike when a driver overtook him and then stopped abruptly during his reconnaissance ride. The team initially played down the incident, and McNulty was able to start and finish the time trial.
His subsequent withdrawal was attributed to illness rather than the crash, but his absence deprives Pogacar of one of his strongest mountain domestiques before the Tour’s decisive final weekend.
Illness spreads through UAE camp
McNulty is not the only member of the team to have struggled.
Adam Yates, another of Pogacar’s leading mountain lieutenants, suffered stomach problems earlier in the week and was dropped from the peloton during Stage 17.
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According to Cyclingnews’s report on Yates’ difficult day, Tim Wellens dropped back to help the British rider reach the finish. They arrived 26 minutes and 36 seconds behind stage winner Jasper Philipsen, leaving them more than 13 minutes inside the official time limit.
Yates showed signs of improvement during Stage 18, although Pogacar said the climber had been instructed not to push himself unnecessarily.
“I think Adam is coming back, getting better,” Pogacar said. “He was already better than yesterday.”
Wellens and Florian Vermeersch have also experienced difficulties. Wellens reported a sore throat before Stage 18, while both Belgians were dropped relatively early during the stage.
The team has attempted to limit the spread of illness by placing riders in separate hotel rooms and keeping those who are unwell apart at mealtimes. Pogacar and Isaac del Toro have so far appeared unaffected. According to The Guardian’s report from Orcières-Merlette, however, the number of weakened riders has raised concerns about the team’s remaining strength.
Pogacar still holds commanding advantage
Despite the disruption, Pogacar remains in a powerful position.
He completed Stage 18 safely alongside his principal rivals and retained a lead of four minutes and 32 seconds over Remco Evenepoel. His advantage means he does not necessarily need his team to control every kilometre of the remaining mountain stages.
The danger is that an isolated leader can become vulnerable if several rivals begin attacking in succession. Pogacar acknowledged that UAE may have to adjust its tactics if his teammates do not recover.
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“You need to ride on instinct,” he said.
The Slovenian also pointed out that fatigue and illness were not limited to UAE as the Tour approached the end of its third week.
“It’s the third week, all the teams are a bit suffering,” he said, as quoted by The Guardian’s Jeremy Whittle. “We will keep fighting and I believe we can do it.”
Alpe d’Huez provides final examination
UAE’s remaining riders now face two consecutive summit finishes at Alpe d’Huez before the Tour concludes in Paris on Sunday.
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Friday’s Stage 19 is a shorter mountain stage from Gap, while Saturday’s demanding queen stage includes the Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier and Col de Sarenne before the final ascent.
According to Harry Latham-Coyle’s analysis for The Independent, Felix Großschartner, Nils Politt and Del Toro are likely to assume greater responsibility while Yates and Wellens attempt to recover.
Pogacar remains the overwhelming favourite to carry the yellow jersey into Paris. His own condition has given UAE little immediate cause for alarm, and his substantial advantage provides a valuable safety margin.
The team surrounding him, however, no longer looks invulnerable. After nearly three weeks of control, illness has introduced a rare element of uncertainty just before the Tour’s hardest final test.
