Pogacar questions lack of support from Visma | Lease a Bike: "I don’t think they’re worried"

"It was hard all day," Pogacar told Domestique Cycling. "We committed to work as a team, and we did a super job." The work of Pogacar and co was desperately needed in the peloton, where several dangerous outsiders for the GC got away in the breakaway of the day. "We knew that if we are alone, it's going to be hard to control this kind of breakaway," Pogačar explained. “Especially with Eddie Dunbar and Florian Lipowitz inside, you shouldn't give them too much advantage."

And so Pogacar put his men at the front. The best WorldTour team did not receive much support. "Quick-Step realised that and threw one guy in to help, but it was not enough," he said. "In the middle, Visma did a little bit of help, but I guess they're not worried about the other contenders," Pogacar criticizes. During the second stage, UAE Emirates and Visma | Lease a Bike found themselves head to head, resulting in shoulder pushes and penalties.

Due to the lack of support, Pogacar praised his team all the more. "We did a really good team effort today. It's a good day out there for the team," he added. "We get ready for the Tour. It was a proper hard Tour de France breakaway stage."

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There was also satisfaction in the Dutch camp of Visma | Lease a Bike after the race. "It was a tough day, with high temperatures. A strong leading group formed and ultimately stayed ahead. That's never quite ideal of course, but the situation in the general classification is still fine," said sports director Grischa Niermann on the team site.

On Wednesday, the fourth day of this French stage race, a time trial of over seventeen kilometers is on the program. The time trial will largely take place on flat roads with a short but steep climb halfway through. Niermann looks ahead: "With Jonas (Vingegaard, ed.) and Matteo (Jorgenson, ed.), we have two good time trialists in the team with Jonas and Matteo, but we are not the favorite tomorrow. I hope we ride a strong time trial and then we will see what the baseline is towards the days that follow."

Vingegaard will start his time trial at 4:35 PM local time (10:35 AM EDT), two minutes before Pogacar. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) is the big favorite as world and Olympic champion. The Belgian will start at 4:33 PM local time (10:33 AM EDT).