Pogacar speaks out: "Some people would be better off keeping their mouths shut sometimes"

There was intense racing in the stage to Mont Ventoux, where many riders wanted to be in the early breakaway. At one point, it seemed there would be no breakaway, until Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies) and Ivan Romeo (Movistar) took initiative again. Politt pulled up alongside the riders in question and shouted at them, which earned him considerable criticism.

French national coach Thomas Voeckler said he didn't think it was right. “There's no worse attitude. It's often the teammates and not the leader who behave like this. I dislike riders who want to impose their will like that.”

Politt himself was unaware of any wrongdoing. "Oh, it was nothing special. We wanted to check, and there was a breakaway with 1'20, after which we took a pit stop with Pogacar. He's the yellow jersey, and after him, half the peloton stopped. Tadej and I were the first riders to return, but then they started attacking again. But there were still riders behind."

”I've always been taught that when the yellow jersey stops to take a break, it's time to relax. Nobody attacks. But apparently we still have to learn the new rule," said the German cynically.

In France, Delettre was asked about the incident. “Politt did his job as a teammate by going after me. I don't think it was personal,” said the TotalEnergies rider. His sports director Jean-Rene Bernaudeau was more vocal on RMC. “Something is going on: the big boys want to crush the little boys. We have to condemn that."

“Everyone is free, we don't wear the same jersey. We don't defend the same interests. If there's a little dignity. . .” he said, referring to Politt's behavior. “It's disrespectful. What's more, it's being caught on camera. Pogacar can't be blamed; he's a good leader. Like Bernard Hinault was to me. But the domestiques are arrogant towards those who want to break away."

On Wednesday, after the stage, leader Pogacar was asked about the incident. “I don't know... Arrogance is one thing, but trying to win the Tour is something else. We're not trying to be arrogant, we're just trying to make it as easy as possible for ourselves to win. Some people would be better off keeping their mouths shut. That may sound super arrogant, but okay...,” said the Slovenian.