A déjà vu, a copy-and-paste, a rerun. Call it what you will, but a year later the same scene was repeated, on the same hill, with the same actors. Adam Yates that attacks, Tadej pogacar who responds, suffers, and then wins.
The epilogue of the UAE Tour It went more or less according to plan. The two men in the best shape and perhaps best suited to this climb, that of Jebel Hafeet, lived up to expectations. But perhaps in the end everything is summed up in Yates' own words: "It's difficult to overtake a two-time Tour de France winner."
Yates error?
But there are certainly some errors on his part. And if that statement is true, his analysis isn't entirely convincing either.
«Today we worked hard – said the standard-bearer of the Ineos-Grenadiers – as I did throughout the entire lap. At the first attack, I went full throttle until I couldn't take it anymore (and there's probably a small tactical error here, editor's note). I looked behind me and hoped Pogacar wasn't attached to my wheel, but it was quite difficult.
"I tried again right at the end and still couldn't get rid of him. At a finish line like this, he's quite fast in the sprint. All in all, I think we can be happy with how we ran."
What the English say is not entirely wrong, but there are some buts… Do you know who your opponent is, do you know that he is faster in the sprint, do you know how he goes on that specific climb because you have already lost there and you repeat the same mistake? As they say: to err is human, to persevere is diabolical.
Garzelli's acquittal
Stefano Garzelli, who commentated on the race for Rai, however, somehow extends a helping hand to Adam. In fact, he completely absolves him.
"And what could Yates have done differently? He tried to win the race – he says – and at the same time defend the podium because Almeida was there too. UAE Team Emirates it has strengthened a lot. He let Bennett pull, then Majka and also Almeida… as well as Pogacar. If he had waited until the last kilometer, he would have risked a lot. There would have been five of them left with two UAE (Pogacar and Almeida, ed.) and we know that on a finish like that Joao is very dangerous for the podium."
But what would Garzelli have done as a rider? Wouldn't he have been a bit more cunning? Perhaps something more, or at least something different, could have been done...
«More than in Yates, due to my characteristics I see myself more in the role of Pogacar – says Garzelli – in a situation like that I would have thought about defending myself and then winning in the sprint. If I really have to blame the Englishman for something, I'd say he could have managed the sprint better this time. That's for sure. He should have anticipated it and not been caught in front at that point. He should have known that by starting from behind, the other player takes those five meters that are difficult to close. And that had to arrive in front of the entrance to the last curve.
«I repeat – he says – Yates played his cards well. He knew the climb well. He attacked at the hardest point, moreover at a moment when the UAE Team Emirates pulled hard, showing great strength. And I also believe that Pogacar suffered at the “hill”. But he's also strong in this: he has a great ability to hold on and remain calm when under pressure and at full speed. He knew that if he held on until that point, then the sprint would be on his side."
Pogacar is also suffering
And it's true, Garzelli is right: Pogacar also struggled. "It's always a pleasure to win at Jebel Hafeet," the Slovenian said with satisfaction at the end of the race.
«The team had worked hard – he continued – and I had to repay this effortAll my teammates pushed hard, especially Rafal Majka who had attacked: I would have been happy to let him go for the stage victory, but he didn't succeed.
"Then at a certain point, Adam attacked, and it was one of the hardest attacks I've ever seen. It was really hard to heal. I suffered a lot.
«I waited for that Joao almeida e Rafal Mayka they came back. Joao also tried and when he too was caught at that point I only thought about the sprint. UAE For us, the Tour is the first milestone of the season. It's our home race. It's important for our sponsors."
And on this last point, Garzelli also has his theory: «It's almost impossible to overtake Pogacar these days, but then let's consider one thing. For his team this is the most important event after the Tour. Winning this stage wearing the leader's jersey, winning the entire Tour... is a great achievement for them. And it was evident in the way the riders and the staff celebrated after the finish, starting with the sheik. Gianetti e Agostini».
