"If we can preserve Isaac's overall ranking, all the better, but not at any cost" - Gianetti on UAE balancing Pogacar yellow and del Toro at Tour de France
CyclingWednesday, 15 July 2026 at 12:45
UAE Team Emirates -XRG CEO Mauro Gianetti wants to try and pair Tadej Pogacar in yellow with a strong Isaac del Toro result at the Tour de France, but one is certainly more important than the other to the team.
The Emirati squad have worked well to help Pogacar build a vice-like grip around the general classification after ten stages, leading the standings by 3:36 over Jonas Vingegaard and over four minutes ahead of the rest of the podium contenders.
Pogacar took his third stage win of the 2026 La Grand Boucle on Tuesday, soaring to a solo victory on the day's penultimate climb. However, as one UAE rider flew, another sank as del Toro dropped from the main group of favourites before the top of the climb.
Before Pogacar made his move, his UAE teammates controlled the stage and teed up the Slovenian. With Nils Politt, Tim Wellens and Adam Yates putting in big shifts at the front of the peloton, Gianetti laid out what was discussed, and that it was not about revenge for Pogacar.
The world champion was beaten by Vingegaard on a similar stage at the 2024 Tour and righted some wrongs as he made it 24 stage wins.
"Yes, that's it. The plan was to try and win the stage. Not thinking about what happened two years ago, but thinking about this Tour de France," Gianetti told Cyclism'Actu.
Gianetti on UAE's stage 10 tactics
"So the idea wasn't necessarily to go for the stage win at all costs. We first had to see how the breakaway would form and how the race would develop. In the end, it took a long time for the breakaway to get going."
A breakaway did build a gap, extending close to two minutes during the stage. However, Gianetti claimed the breakaway's lack of cohesion made it easy for UAE to keep control.
He added: "Then, there was a good group up front, but they attacked immediately. This prevented the breakaway from gaining a real advantage, and our riders were able to control the situation well."
Isaac del Toro and Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Tour de France
Del Toro loses time in GC
Del Toro finished 1:31 behind Pogacar after battling hard after the penultimate climb. However, it wasn't enough to see him keep his GC placing, slipping four places to seventh overall. Gianetti said that the team are still hoping to support his GC ambitions, but not at all costs.
"Yes, it's a shame. If he'd crested the climb only five seconds behind instead of ten, he might have been able to get back in and salvage his day," Gianetti continued.
Read also
"But that's how it is: the stage was tough, and the day after a rest day can also bring different feelings. Our goal, as we've already said, is to have Tadej in yellow in Paris. If we can preserve Isaac's overall ranking, all the better, but not at any cost."
The main goal is the yellow jersey with Pogacar. Ginatti stressed that concentration is key for his team. He added: "First, we have to get this far. Every day, we have to stay focused. We're in the Tour de France, and we can't lose our concentration at any point."
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.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- The Enhanced Games could make a backflip takeover bid in that case, save cycling and grow their base ;-)Mistermaumau15-07-2026
- No one is asking vou anything!!!mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales15-07-2026
- The writer saying there's no clear evidence is like saying there is evidence but it's not clear. A very underhanded way of accusing him of doping. Shameful...Santiago15-07-2026
- Hard to make sense of this kind of behavior from fans. Imagine Usain Bolt getting boos instead of applause after another record-breaking run, or Roger Federer winning Wimbledon for the nth time, or Messi winning the Bol'D Or n consecutive times, and fans greeting their achievements with boos instead of cheers. Is this the Lance Armstrong Effect, or the Paul Seixas Effect? When Steffi Graf was dominating women's tennis, then Monica Seles came along and broke her dominance, a crazed German fan jumped the barriers and stabbed her in the back, effectively ending her outstanding career. These athletes are outstanding specimens of mankind, they perform heroic deeds for our viewing delight. But stupidity lurks everywhere, and sports rely on spectators for patronage, so you learn to take the good with the bad. Such a shame.FredMan15-07-2026
- Fair call. It can't be fun getting labelled the Biggest Runner-Up Washed Loser because you're up against a freak of nature every July, when you've won every Grand Tour and the biggest one twice, and probably plan to do all the one week races and apart from one Slovenian you generally destroy the field in GC/stage races.wrsty15-07-2026
- Yeah but, Lipopoel, Del Poggo, Skelayuso? Would be so much more interesting if the actors were redistributed and had to show their worth instead of dezling with family feuds (and trust me, no matter how cosy, when it comes to inheritance, it won’t be). It’s almost as if the powers that be want it this way for spectacle and headlineability.Mistermaumau15-07-2026
- Jorgensen is often meant to be a satellite rider for Jonas, so a dangerous rider to let up the road. Seems to be some bad blood there too, though.Hills3315-07-2026
- Mmm I think he has a grudge against Jorgensen . I have noticed he was never allowed up road what do ever even though he was so far down on GC. Pog is paid to win by his team and unless i am missing the body language they are always laughing and talking. Maybe Pog is the silent assassin lolpaultryan200215-07-2026
- From what he said after Stage 10, Gianetti was mad at him when he couldn't beat Jonas last time on this parcours, so he had to win now. He started looking over his shoulder while still racing down that tricky descent, and kept doing it right to the end, when he had nothing left in his legs. Meantime, Del Toro cracked, and McNulty faded completely. Again, I'm getting this strange feeling that people are watching different races.Hills3315-07-2026
- Isn't it more interesting to watch perfection in action...Pogi-Baby Hulk for the wins... or Baudin's victory against Gaudu and Romo? I just hate those who pray to be given victories. I would kick them out of the sport. And by the way... can someone remind me who said before the Tour: "Only now, after 2 years, does it feel like the old Jonas is back, I'm even stronger now than in 2023. I think I can beat Pogačar again, I've never felt better on a bike, I'm powerful."mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales15-07-2026
Loading
Write a comment