UAE Team Emirates-XRG's unexpected decision not to let the break of the day on the Tour de France's stage 9 gain too much time has been justified by team management as necessary to stop further attacks.
Team manager Mauro Gianetti denied at the finish that there was any interest in keeping the break on a tight leash because Lidl-Trek, currently leading the teams classification, had two riders in the move: Derek Gee-West and Quinn Simmons.
