"It adds up, I've said it many, many times" - UAE sent warning as Johan Bruyneel points out danger of aggressive stage 3 tactics
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates are on top of the cycling world after taking two stage victories in the Tour de France, but one vital warning should be heeded if they don't want to come crashing back down.
Isaac del Toro and Tadej Pogacar have enjoyed a Tour bonanza as the Slovenian took the yellow jersey following a stage win on Monday, following up del Toro's stage 2 win on Sunday.
But analysing stage 3, Johan Bruyneel had a word of caution rather than praise for UAE, noting the physical toll controlling the race can have on their team and leaders Pogacar and Del Toro.
Tim Wellens put in a solid display ahead of the finale of the stage as he went to work, controlling the gap to the breakaway and helping real in the attackers before a closing push saw Pogacar lined up for victory.
Bruyneel notes Tim Wellens' pain face
Bruyneel pointed out Wellens' clear suffering and pain faces in the Tour heat, noting that the team must be changing tactic for Tuesday's stage 4 by focusing on recovery and not controlling affairs.
"Tim Wellens, putting an amazing pUll, like a very long pUll, I mean, his face was the suffer face," Bruyneel said on The Move after stage 3.
"You know, stages like this, and if you take that decision to go for the stage win, and you know you have to control the whole stage without any help, you may feel, as you may say, okay, fine, you know, we win the stage, we have a day to recover tomorrow. It's a recovery day."
However, Bruyneel suggests that there's a bill to be paid later down the road as he preached patience and restraint from UAE.
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Pogacar needs to manage teammates' effort
Noting that it's not only his opponents that will tire, Pogacar too needs to be mindful of the effort put in by his teammates so as to preserve them for later in the race.
"It adds up. It adds up, I've said it many, many times, and I'm going to keep saying it, and I don't care if it's modern cycling or old fashioned cycling," he said.
He concluded: "Stage win, stage racing, a grand tour, you have to be with the calculator in your back pocket, not just for yourself, for your teammates."
Tuesday's stage 4 does offer a slight reprieve for the peloton, but with plenty of hills and climbing, there's still a lot of chances for riders to attack and opportunities for fast men to cling on in hopes of reaching a finish line sprint.
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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