Did Pogocar gift stage 15 to Evenpoele?

 

LOT of chat on Facebook prompted by a former pro poking fun at journalists claiming they failed to see that Tadej Pogacar gifted stage 15 to Remco Evenpoele on the eve of the rest day.

Well, did he?

Now I will always bow to former pros that have far greater insight and knowledge to us mere scribes, understand the body language of those we watch on the small screen. I always look forward to their commentary which brings the race alive and explains so much.

A lot was made of Evenpoele ‘s victory because it was his first road stage win in the Tour, to add to his two time trial wins, which became three after his emphatic TT win on stage 16 the day after the rest day.

I must admit it hadn’t occurred to me that Pogacar might allow  Evenpoele the win. 

 Did he?

I do recall Pogacar once saying Evenpoele was one of the few riders he feared most if it came down to a sprint, that he wouldn’t be happy if the Belgian joined him on one of his lone breaks.

What was clear was that Pogacar was doing all he could to set the stage up for his UAE teammate, the Mexican Isaac del Torro, who was lying third overall and would take over  the young rider competition that day.
But Del Torro who attacked at least twice failed to get away in the last kilometre or so.  

When Evenpoele did attack in last 100 metres or so, Pog closed up and tailed him, made an effort to get past, didn’t, and gave best.

Looking back on it, it is clear Pog wouldn’t want to go full out for fear or taking Evenpoele with him and risk further distancing Del Torro from the Belgian he clearly needs to overtake on GC, for second place on the podium in Paris.

But did Pog gift the Belgian the stage?  Maybe numbers on his power metre said.  No. Don’t make that extra big effort today, son. Save it for the really big mountains later in the week? We like to think he can attack when he wants to.

But can he?

Stage 16 time trial, Evian toThonon-les-Bains, 26km.

Remco Evenpoele was the clear winner of t his exciting test after the rest day.  which saw riders exceed 100kph on the long tortuous downhill to the finish.

Evenpoele clocked 32 minutes 19 seconds, with Pogacar second at 28 seconds and M. Skjelmose of Denmark third at 1-04,

Britain’s Josh Tarling was 10^th at 2-02.

No change to the top three overall placings: 1, Pogacar, 2, Evenpoele at 4-32; 3, Del Torro. at 6-51.