„Er beschwert sich über etwas, das es nicht gibt“ – Wout van Aert kritisiert Tadej Pogacars Aussagen zu Vismas Taktik

Man könnte sagen, dass es keinen echten verbalen Schlagabtausch zwischen Team Visma | Lease a Bike und UAE Team Emirates – XRG gibt, doch die Spannungen nehmen während dieser Tour de France spürbar zu. Wout Van Aert hat nun auf Tadej Pogacars Aussagen zur Taktik auf der 15. Etappe reagiert – und zeigte sich wenig begeistert.

„Zum Glück stört mich das nicht – und auch sonst niemanden in der Gruppe. Zumindest habe ich nicht das Gefühl. Aber es ist schon irgendwie witzig, dass Tadej das sagt“, erklärte van Aert auf einer Pressekonferenz am Morgen, wie TNT Sports berichtete.

Früh in der Etappe am Sonntag wurde Jonas Vingegaard in einen Sturz verwickelt, der das Peloton auseinanderreißen ließ. Auch wenn es offensichtlich war, dass die große Gruppe wieder zur Spitze aufschließen würde, äußerte sich Pogačar kritisch über die Taktik von Visma, drei Fahrer vorne im Rennen zu halten. Das Rennen war jedoch nicht neutralisiert worden, und das Ziel war es, Fahrer in die Fluchtgruppe zu bringen – was schließlich auch gelang, denn Victor Campenaerts und Wout van Aert beendeten die Etappe in der Spitzengruppe.

After the stage Pogacar commented: "I didn't know what to think. I blocked Matteo, so the three of them couldn't continue. Maybe I helped Jonas by doing that, because it was a pretty strange situation. If I were in Jonas's position, I wouldn't be the happiest at the dinner table tonight". This was seen as a dig on Visma's tactics and perhaps an attempt to undermine the Dutch collective. 

Van Aert did not hold back when asked about the statements. "It was also very clear that UAE Emirates - XRG wanted Tim Wellens in the breakaway. They did exactly the same. And when I look back at that situation with Jonas’ crash, I think the solution would have been really simple. With 25 riders, we tried to get into the breakaway".

Van Aert did not enjoy Pogacar's words, and most likely believes it is part of a psychological tactic from the Slovenian - something which seems to have been a back and forth between the two teams over the past few weeks. "If Tadej had simply dropped back into the group Jonas was in, that would have been truly sporting. Now he's complaining about something that isn't there. We simply wanted to race for the stage win.

Visma dropping back their riders would likely result in the same situation for Vingegaard, whilst reducing it's chances of being in the winning breakaway. The Belgian sees no drama in the race scenario that had developed: "Everyone who was there at that moment was there to be in the breakaway. I think that's a perfectly normal thing."