Bruyneel advises 'vulnerable-looking' UAE to take a different approach at the Tour de France: 'Things like that can backfire'

UAE Team Emirates-XRG has been calling the shots in the Tour de France so far, although Tadej Pogacar’s team has also suffered a defeat. Does UAE also want to get Isaac Del Toro on the podium, and is the team classification still a goal? Johan Bruyneel advises the team from the Emirates—which he believes looks vulnerable—to change course before the end of this Tour de France.

The opening team time trial went to Visma | Lease a Bike, but very soon after, UAE and Pogacar took control of the Tour. The dominance of the team from the Emirates didn’t sit well with the breakaway, who were given hardly any opportunities. It also became immediately clear that the team was willing to go to great lengths to get Del Toro on the podium in Paris.

Another departure from the norm: UAE riders joining the breakaway, as we saw, for example, on Wednesday during the wild 17th stage. "Normally, they wouldn’t have anyone there. It seemed like they’d made that a goal, but things like that can backfire," Bruyneel said on the THE MOVE podcast.

The Belgian explains. “In the first week, they kept the stage distances short each time, and we also saw interviews with Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch saying they wanted to win the team classification as well. I don’t think they can make that a goal. If you’re there to win the Tour de France... it has to be something that just happens, not something that’s a priority,” he says firmly.

The former cyclist added: “Today (Wednesday, ed.) we saw a UAE team that looked pretty vulnerable to me.” That was also due to Adam Yates, who was dropped from the first group early on and then from the second group as well. “He apparently got sick; he looked really bad.”

Bruyneel had already spotted weaknesses in the UAE team earlier in Stage 17. “When there were many different groups at the start of the stage, Vermeersch and Wellens were in the third or fourth group. That should never happen under normal circumstances. They are two very strong riders who should be in the second or third group.”

But, as the Belgian points out: “When it all came down to it, they were right there with us again. The UAE team actually seemed a bit vulnerable to me,” he reiterated, however. In his view, going for the team classification is therefore not a good idea. “They really need to back off from that. It doesn’t make any sense.” Geraint Thomas of Netcompany INEOS has also questioned this tactic.

Bruyneel doesn't think UAE will win the team classification either. "After today, I think Lidl-Trek is 18 minutes ahead; normally, that would be enough. They have two climbers who’ll be in the mix, and then they have Quinn Simmons, who can do it all. I don’t think they’re going to lose 18 minutes over these three stages."

And then there’s still that battle to get Del Toro onto the podium. According to the Belgian, the priority shouldn’t be there, but really on team leader Pogačar. “If you’re in that position as team leader, you’re there to win the Tour, and nothing else matters. Wherever you can gain time without expending too much energy, you have to do it.”

The yellow jersey wearer didn't do that earlier in this Tour. "Pogačar found himself in two situations where he could have gained a minute without too much effort. I don't think it will matter in the end. Let’s hope nothing happens to him,” Bruyneel adds. And: “I can understand that they’re trying to get Del Toro on the podium.”

But, the former team director concludes: “After today (Wednesday, ed.), when I’m not exactly sure what happened, I’m still a little worried about UAE. I do understand that things can vary a lot from day to day: Del Toro had a good time trial, so we can assume he’s not sick,” he says, remaining optimistic.