Take2 weeks ago
Pogačar bridged Van Aert's attack with 2km to go in Manosque — then sat on his wheel, refused to pull through, and apologized afterward. That's not a tactical error; that's what energy management looks like on day two of three weeks.
«I hesitated when I joined Wout because my legs were completely blown. I knew that if I wanted to win, he had to be the one to drive. If I had worked, I don't think I could have finished it» — Pogačar to Sporza. He caught Van Aert going full gas on the flat, arrived empty, and made the calculation: let Van Aert pace, survive the sprint. Brennan beat them both regardless. Pogačar keeps the red jersey with a nine-second lead over Van Aert — and with it, the knowledge that Van Aert can already extract a full-gas response from the world champion in the first rolling stage of the race.
Sources
Tadej Pogacar apologizes to Wout van Aert after finish: "Sorry I didn't take over""Wout van Aert's attack? It was really difficult" - Tadej Pogacar on explosive Vuelta finaleVuelta a España: Powerful sprint nets Matthew Brennan stage 2 victory as Tadej Pogačar fends off attacks to keep leader's jersey