Analyst saw a moment that must’ve stung for Pogacar: "And then suddenly, you see Visma | Lease a Bike..."

“Stage 9 was one to frame and hang on the wall,” Schotte began. “The second-fastest road stage in Tour history, with an average speed over 50 kilometers per hour. Only one other stage has ever gone over 50.” Of course, that had everything to do with the unbelievable team effort by Van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert.

Still, De Cauwer wanted to highlight the winner first. “What a win, and what a way to do it. This was the fastest stage I’ve ever seen between just two guys. It wasn’t a peloton or big group pushing the pace. Let’s call it the fastest duo stage ever.”

Did De Cauwer think Van der Poel could hold them off? “It was tough. Once Uno-X - I still don’t know why - and the other teams started cooperating, you could kind of feel the control come back. You still hoped Van der Poel could finish it off, especially considering the effort and the way he rode. But then it becomes a sprint, and of course you’re happy for Tim Merlier.”

“We’ve already said that Jasper Philipsen dropping out changed a lot,” the experienced Belgian commentator continued. “Otherwise those guys wouldn’t have attacked, and you’d have seen a completely different race. The same goes for Almeida dropping out,” he said, touching on another big moment from this Sunday.

Losing the Portuguese rider was a real blow for UAE. Schotte pointed out that Pogacar was often isolated in the peloton. “When Wellens drops, I expect someone like Nils Politt to be there. He’s got the body for that kind of job. I didn’t see Narvaez, or Sivakov either, so Pogacar was often on his own. And then at one point, you see Visma | Lease a Bike sitting there with four or five guys — Campenaerts, Affini, Vingegaard. That has to sting a little for Pogacar, knowing Almeida’s out,” said De Cauwer.

Does he think Almeida’s absence is as impactful as Philipsen’s? “I think so. It really forces you to reconsider some things. Before, you could count on having someone there. People sometimes call it a kind of GC backup. I wouldn’t say that. Almeida was a key support rider who, if there is trouble, would basically be the last guy with Pogacar. Now that role will probably go to Adam Yates. He’s kept a low profile so far. But Almeida still has a bit more body,” said De Cauwer.

One team that seems to have bounced back from trouble is Soudal Quick-Step. “They’re back in full force with Remco and Schachmann. They were never really gone, but on that first day, you did wonder, ‘Uh-oh, what’s happening there?’ But now they’re sharp and ready.”

That leaves the question... how many more chances will Merlier get in this Tour? “We’ll have to get through the tougher stages first and see where things stand. Whether Merlier will still be there. It’s hard to say. But if it comes down to a sprint, and he’s still fresh, he’s clearly the fastest. And with Bert Van Lerberghe by his side... that’s a great teammate, a right-hand man, a friend, the whole package.”