Tadej Pogačar dismissed any suggestion that the Evenepoel victory at Plateau de Solaison came as a gift.
The Tour leader said Remco Evenepoel simply beat him in their uphill sprint after a direct fight near the summit. Pogačar had controlled much of the race with familiar authority, but this finish produced a rare reversal.
Evenepoel stayed with Pogačar in the closing kilometres, then launched early and carried his speed to the line. Pogačar said he had no regrets about how he handled the finale.
Speaking at his press conference, in comments collected by HLN, Pogačar said Evenepoel was stronger in the sprint. He said the Belgian went early, accelerated powerfully, and left him without the response he wanted.
It marked an unusual moment in this Tour. Pogačar has often shaped the hardest stages, then finished them himself. At Plateau de Solaison, Evenepoel matched him and then outkicked him on climbing terrain.
Evenepoel victory earns Pogačar’s respect
Pogačar offered praise rather than excuses after the finish. He credited Evenepoel for the performance and described the ride as a major confidence boost for the Belgian.
“Chapeau to him,” Pogačar said, adding that Evenepoel had shown he was “a rocket.”
The Slovenian also offered tactical context for the outcome. He said the stage carried less accumulated fatigue than the previous day. That allowed the favourites to conserve more energy before one decisive effort near the finish.
Pogačar said the race had unfolded in a way that let riders save energy early. He added that the picture could change when several climbs arrive in quick succession.
That assessment did not reduce his view of Evenepoel as a threat. Pogačar said the Belgian would be a major factor during the final week and called him “a big contender.”
The result also came after some confusion inside the UAE camp during the finale. Isaac Del Toro attacked at a moment when Pogačar expected a different plan.
Pogačar said there may have been miscommunication. He explained that he had wanted Del Toro to sprint, but Del Toro attacked instead. Pogačar then tried to push on and support the move.
He noted that communication becomes difficult with many people around in a tense summit finish. The incident raised questions about whether Pogačar focused more on Del Toro than the stage win.
Red Bull sees breakthrough but avoids Tour victory talk
Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe sports chief Zak Dempster acknowledged that Pogačar appeared occupied by Del Toro. However, he rejected the idea that Evenepoel had been handed the win.
Dempster told Sporza that Pogačar was clearly focused on Del Toro. He also said Pogačar did not open a gap for no reason when Del Toro attacked.
Inside the Red Bull team, the finish brought satisfaction and surprise. Evenepoel reached the line with the Tour’s dominant rider, then beat him uphill. Dempster said even the team had not expected that outcome.
He said any rider who beats Pogačar uphill can call it a special performance. He described the day as beautiful for both Evenepoel and the team.
Dempster also linked the performance to Evenepoel’s move to Red Bull and his work with a new coach. He said the project had required a restart from zero. He added that it was rewarding to see Evenepoel producing his best level.
Evenepoel will also rank among the favourites for Tuesday’s time trial. Still, Red Bull has not shifted into public talk of overall victory.
The team also plans to maintain shared leadership with Florian Lipowitz. Dempster said Evenepoel sits better placed, but the team wants to keep both riders close.
For now, Plateau de Solaison delivered a clear sporting conclusion. Pogačar tried to win, Del Toro’s move complicated the finale, and Evenepoel produced the sharper uphill sprint.