Tadej Pogačar's teammate Brandon McNulty abandoned the Tour de France, midway through stage 18.
The American was the first UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider to leave the Tour, leaving the yellow jersey with six support riders over the final few stages. McNulty would have been a key part of Pogačar's support in the two upcoming Alpe d'Huez stages, although with the Slovenian having a 4:32 buffer over Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), his abandon may not prove decisive.
It came the day after his teammate, Adam Yates, was revealed to be suffering with a stomach illness. It is not yet known if McNulty's abandon is connected. Separately, McNulty was already suffering after being hit by a car during his reconnaissance of the stage 16 time trial course on Tuesday.
After Yates suffered on Wednesday's stage 17, UAE team boss Mauro Gianetti said that Yates has been isolated from the group, but expressed confidence that it’s nothing more than an “episode”. Neither was he concerned that the infection could be contagious to other members of the team.
UAE Team Emirates posted on X: "Unfortunately, despite battling hard to stay in the race, Brandon McNulty has been forced to abandon Le Tour. Brandon had been suffering from illness and leaves the race on stage 18. You’ll be missed, Brandon. Feel better soon."
More to follow...
