Rather than ease up, riders from Arkéa - B&B Hotels and a few others
seized the moment to launch an attack, increasing the pace as Pogacar was
briefly off the bike.
“The world champion's domestique just came up to the front
to explain that Pogacar was about to stop for a comfort break,”
said Rob Hatch
on TNT Sports. “Everybody else started to do the same until, very bad
etiquette, Arkea and a couple of other teams en masse [attacked]... that looked
an organised move. It's pretty hard to miss Tadej Pogacar in the brilliant
white and rainbows.”
Reactions came swiftly, with Robbie McEwen summing up the
moment in silence: “Not even words. The looks say it all.”
Adam Blythe offered a more nuanced perspective. “There are
two sides to this. It’s not a stage race, so technically there’s no leader.
Yes, he’s the world champion. But is there a rule, or is it just a gentleman’s
agreement [to stop]? I wouldn’t have attacked…”