You thought you knew Tadej Pogačar, huh. You thought he’d be on the attack in the opening stages of the Tour de France, keen to take time on the Classics-like terrain. You expected him to attack on the third-last climb on stage two, 10km from the finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
But this is a different Pogačar. Patient, more reserved, less eager. Playing a longer game. He’s still gaining time – 39 seconds over Remco Evenepoel on stage one, and two extra bonus seconds over Jonas Vingegaard on stage two after he finished second behind winner Mathieu van der Poel – but UAE Team Emirates-XRG are preaching a game of perseverance and caution.
Referencing the strong wind and heavy rain that has plagued the Grand Départ in the north of France and is set to continue on stage three, Fernández continued: “The risk continues, the danger continues, and we have to continue with the same idea of not taking many risks. It’s too soon to take on the responsibility of trying to protect Tadej [in yellow].”