Payback. Tadej Pogačar helped Isaac del Toro win stage 2 of the Tour de France in Barcelona, and on Monday the Mexican paid back his team leader for his generosity with a huge effort to set him up for stage 3 victory in Les Angles.
"It's because of Isaac today. I got some extra power in the final. He committed more than 100% on the final climb," Pogačar said of Del Toro.
"We decided in the middle of the stage to go for the win, and I'm really happy that we started the Tour like this. It's incredible to finish today."
Pogačar and Del Toro hugged beyond the finish line and enjoyed a special moment behind the podium. On the short 6.5% climb to the finish, Del Toro set an infernal, progressive pace in the final kilometre that lined out and hurt all their rivals and set up Pogačar for his acceleration to the line.
Pogačar celebrated as stage winner and also took the yellow jersey from rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) thanks to the time bonuses.
Del Toro lost four seconds to Pogačar after his huge effort but is still fourth overall, at 24 seconds, and again pulled on the white jersey as best young rider.
There is a real sense at the Tour de France that Pogačar and Del Toro could finish first and second in Paris, with the Mexican clearly Pogačar's future heir and a Tour de France winner.
Yet Del Toro was happier about Pogačar's success rather than any personal glory.
"It was super important to be up there for him," Del Toro said, Pogačar's generosity on stage 2 inspiring the payback and loyalty from the Mexican.
"I'm super happy to see him in yellow. I can't be more proud that we finished the goal. I'm super happy. Now I get to go on the podium with him. I didn't think I'd ever do that with him in my life."
Del Toro leads Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) in the white jersey competition for best rider aged under 25. He was obliged to wear the green points jersey while leading that competition, but Pogačar now leads the points competition after stage 3, and so under race rules, Vingegaard will wear the green jersey during stage 40 to Foix.
Del Toro has other objectives than just the white jersey. "The white jersey can be a goal, but I'm here to enjoy things and learn," he made clear. "I think people can see that every day. I'll be happy to do as much as I can for Tadej."
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