“If he says to ride, you can assume he's probably going to win" - Tadej Pogacar's teammate ahead of Tour de France

Brandon McNulty has no problems sacrificing himself for teammate Tadej Pogacar, because he knows the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader will more than likely deliver if he was to put in the hard work.

The American all-rounder is preparing to support the Slovenian in his bid to win a fifth Tour de France, brushing off a viral infection in late spring to bounce back just in time for the Grand Boucle.

The Emirati squad have been interrupted by injuries and illnesses throughout spring, and with Joao Almeida ruled out of the Tour, McNulty skillset means he will be one of the riders entrusted with stewarding him through an array of stages including the team time trial, flat sprint stages and of course some punchy medium mountain tests.

“If he says to ride, you can assume he's probably going to win the stage,” McNulty told Escape Collective, highlighting the simple reason he has no problems riding for Pogacar.

But the season hasn't quite gone to plan, leading to him spending time off the bike: "All spring was rocky, and then I ended up having a virus. I found out after Basque Country."

He continued: "From there, three weeks off, and then from May 2 or 3 I was able to start riding, and then just training full for the Tour, and I've trained well, and came back well, so I'm back in shape."

Pogacar's support is expected to be officially confirmed in the coming days. However, Tim Wellens and Nils Pollitt are expected to command the engine room. Mcnulty and Florian Vermeesch should be the versatile helpers while Isaac del Toro and Adam Yates are backed to be his last two assistants come the high mountains.

Following up on McNulty's praise of Pogacar, UAE general manager Joxean Matxin attributes their spirit and togetherness to Pogacar's leadership, noting that his attitude and dedication lead the way for his colleagues.

"His leadership skills are remarkable," Matxin recently said. "He cares about his teammates, about the team. He's always there for training camp, and he even does the laundry and cooks dinner.

"Only a true leader can do that. I'd highlight his commitment to the job, his attitude, his dedication—both his own and the team's—that's what matters most. And then, when he gets an opportunity during a race, he seizes it. The best thing about the team is its attitude. We're a family."