According to his team, Tadej Pogačar is OK, he is healthy and started stage 19 from the front of the grid as race leader, keen to try to win the stage 19 of the Tour de France to L'Alpe d'Huez on Friday.
Concerns for Pogačar's health have arisen after illness and fatigue seemed to spread through several of his teammates, causing one to abandon and another to nearly miss the time cut on stage 18.
Cyclingnews witnessed how Pogačar rode to the sign-on podium alone on Friday, but he was soon joined by his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates. Pogačar didn't smile but seemed relaxed and healthy.
Stage 19 live
- Tour de France stage 19 LIVE – Race heads to Alpe d'Huez
"We're in good spirits, everyone is looking better," Pogačar said in a final interview before starting the stage.
"Brandon [McNulty] is looking better but he can't start [after abandoning stage 18]. We will miss him. But we're motivated for today."
In the minutes before the roll out in Gap, UAE Team Emirates-XRG were keen to make clear that their team leaders Tadej Pogačar and Isaac del Toro have not fallen ill with the stomach problem that hit Adam Yates, nor suffering from the race fatigue that forced Brandon McNulty to abandon on stage 18 and Tim Wellems struggle to finish inside the time limit.
"Our situation is pretty much the same as yesterday," sports director Matxin Fernández told Sporza.
"Tim has some pain and minor ailments, so it's going to be a matter of survival again. Adam is doing better. He is taking a step forward, and that is good news. But in general, it is pretty much status quo."
Team manager Mauro Gianetti responded specifically to questions about Pogačar and Del Toro.
"Fortunately Tadej is OK, Isaac is OK. It’s true fatigue is starting to show, but everyone is doing OK," Gianetti told French television.
"We’d have preferred to have Brandon with us, he’s a talented rider, but we have to make do without. There are three days left, three hard days, and I think it will be very exciting."
Asked specifically if Pogačar is feeling great, Fernández said: "Yes, he is healthy."
He was equally succinct about rumours that Del Toro was not feeling great.
"He finished at the front among the favorites yesterday, didn't he? You don't get better proof than the results."
Fernández accepted that UAE's rivals may have smelled blood and so may attack, after seeing UAE hit by illness.
"Yes, they know something is wrong, and that is their prerogative. They can play but we remain focused and we keep fighting," he told Sporza.
"Even though we have one rider less, a natural selection will take place. Fitness and legs will do the talking. Every rider wants to win on this mythical mountain and that goes for us too."
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