"I should have taken over" - Pogacar immediately apologises to Van Aert with classy gesture for his five-year-old son after Vuelta stage 2 finale
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar was seen immediately going over to Wout van Aert in the aftermath of stage 2 after Matthew Brennan's blazing sprint win. Just moments before, eternal rivals Pogacar and Van Aert had found themselves in familiar territory - following eachother's wheels on a short climb.
It was Pogacar who found himself on the back-foot however, as the Belgian opened up the taps with over two kilometers to go. In a thrilling fight, van Aert broke away from the bunch as only Pogacar could initially also get the separation to try and bridge across.
When Pogacar did cross that road, he never came through to offer assistance to the Visma | Lease a Bike rider, leading to the peloton catching the pair and setting up a reduced bunch sprint to the line.
Pogacar apologises to Van Aert with classy gesture
It ultimately worked in favour of van Aert from a team perspective. However, had Pogacar shared the work with him, there was a high likelihood that the pair could have contested the finale.
As the cameras caught the immediate aftermath, the Vuelta leader was seen offering his apologies for not sharing the workload. He said: "I should have taken over, sorry".
Van Aert accepted the apology and introduced him to his five-year-old son, Georges. As well as greeting Georges, Pogacar went a step further in a classy gesture, Pogacar gave up his special edition sunglasses to Georges.
Speaking to media after the stage, Pogacar admitted that he couldn't give anything after responding to van Aert's searing attack - a move which ultimately cost the Belgian also as he fell away from contention as his teammate Brennan took victory.
😍 EL MOMENTAZO ENTRE Van Aert, sus hijos y Pogačar@as_tv @AS_HugoPalomar pic.twitter.com/YRJukzhyTe
— Diario AS (@diarioas) August 23, 2026
Pogacar admits following Van Aert attack pushed him to his limit
"Wout van Aert's attack? It was really difficult, I had a lot of lactic acid in my legs in that final. When Wout went, I had to react immediately to avoid being caught out and close the gap".
He added: "In the final sprint, I gave everything to get the best possible result and defend the leader's jersey"
Read also
Pogacar could well extend his lead and grip on the red jersey on Monday as the race heads to the high mountains. A mountain stage featuring a climbing-heavy second half of the day and summit finish is one usually favoured by the Slovenian.
However, with over two weeks of wearing the red jersey on prospect, it's been suggested that the UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider could favour surrendering the jersey to avoid the burden of leading the race - with additional media, logistical obligations and of course the racing pressure of controlling affairs all elements that could weigh heavy in a Grand Tour.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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