San Francisco Frontiers - Pogacar lauds team spirit after 'rough' Tour de France days

Illness had been spreading through the UAE camp since the beginning of the week, with Adam Yates suffering particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday, Tim Wellens complaining of feeling ill, Florian Vermeersch saying he was carrying an injury, and Brandon McNulty pulling out of the race on Thursday with flu-like symptoms.

And yet, once again, world champion Pogacar did the business when it mattered most.

"Adam was really, really bad. In the TT (time-trial) day he was white like a wall, and then he was better and better," said the four-time Tour champion.

"Felix Grossschartner had to do all the work in the last few days because Tim was also feeling sick.

"Brandon (left the race) yesterday... it's just been a little bit rough with the guys not feeling themselves.

"But today we stepped up again and they believed that we can win and they give it all again."

And he added: "Even with the rough days of the last few days, the team spirit cannot be better and then when we win (it) is a reward for all."

The victory was so important to the team that sporting director Matxin Joxean Fernandez was in tears at the end of the stage.

"Amazing! He's an amazing guy, amazing person, amazing champion, amazing team, amazing spirit," he said.

"Thank you for all (the) guys, for the compromise, for the attitude, for the belief, always belief and today always staying the super, super champion and super leader.

"Super proud of these guys."

He also paid tribute to the efforts of the whole team to overcome their difficulties.

"This is a dream team, this is one of the best in my career, for sure," he added.

"The victory of today is the mythical victory, in the mythical place, in the mythical style, in the mythical situation, with the mythical breakaway containers. Amazing!"

- 'Terrible, gruelling, magical' -

The final climb up Alpe d'Huez provided a stunning backdrop, not just because of the scenery but also the hordes of ecstatic fans packed onto every one of the famous mountain's 21 hairpin bends.

"It was terrible, it was gruelling, the fans were going wild, my ears are still ringing," said teenage French starlet Paul Seixas, who finished ninth and lost a handful of seconds to Isaac Del Toro in the battle for the final podium spot and the best young rider's white jersey.

"It was magical but at the same time, maybe one of the hardest days of my life on a bicycle.

"It's full gas once again, like every day at the Tour.

"I limited the damage in the end -- I didn't have the legs I'd hoped for.

"But it was still a great performance, I'm still in the mix for the podium."

The crowds on the final climb were responsible for a crash which ended Einer Rubio's Tour.

A spectator ran across the road, forcing a UAE team car into an emergency stop which saw the Colombian crash into the back of the vehicle.

But for the most part, the fans created a scintillating atmosphere for the riders.

"It's incredible, the amount of people that come here and watch bike racing is amazing," said Briton Tom Pidcock, who finished the stage in 20th and sits ninth overall.

"They make the atmosphere, and thank you to everyone who comes out and makes it so magical."

L.Ramos--SFF