The Pogacar Barcelona display on stage 2 did not bring him the yellow jersey, but it underlined his control. Tadej Pogačar eased off near the line as UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Isaac del Toro took victory.
Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel finished on the same time as Pogačar. Yet the stage still carried a clear psychological edge for the world champion and his team.
Pogačar had the strength to chase the win on the uphill finish in Barcelona. Instead, he watched the race behind him and allowed Del Toro to keep his advantage.
The decision marked a contrast with recent Tours. Pogačar has often fought Vingegaard for every bonus second in the opening week. Here, he passed up the chance to take at least 10 seconds on the line.
Pogacar Barcelona message comes through UAE control
UAE Team Emirates-XRG shaped the race long before the final metres. The team moved to the front before the first climb to Begues, with around 80km remaining.
They then tightened their grip on the finishing circuit around Montjuïc. Brandon McNulty, back at the Tour for the first time in four years, played a central role.
The American spent 25km setting the pace and controlling the reduced peloton. His work covered the first two ascents of Montjuïc and kept the general classification contenders under pressure.
The anticipated Pogačar attack never fully arrived. That hardly reduced the tension, as rivals still had to race as though it might come at any moment.
On the final passage of Montjuïc, confusion from the Decathlon CMA CGM team car changed the rhythm. Tiesj Benoot set a fierce pace, although leader Paul Seixas was not preparing to attack.
By then, McNulty had finished his work. Adam Yates moved forward for UAE and lifted the tempo on the steepest section of the climb.
Over the top, Del Toro found himself clear after following a move from Mattias Skjelmose of Lidl-Trek. The Mexican then held his place into the final rise.
Pogačar accelerated in sight of the finish, but he did not close the move down. He looked back more than once, checking Vingegaard and Evenepoel rather than driving fully to the line.
Del Toro crossed first, while Pogačar raised his arms behind him. The moment rewarded a Tour debutant who has repeatedly presented himself as a helper for Pogačar.
Del Toro strengthens UAE’s Tour position
Del Toro won the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes last month. Even then, he stressed that his Tour role would center on supporting Pogačar.
His stage win now places him fourth overall, 16 seconds behind Vingegaard. That position makes him a valuable tactical option for UAE rather than an obvious source of internal tension.
The contrast with Juan Ayuso remains notable. Ayuso left UAE last year after resisting a Pogačar-led team structure, according to the source report.
Del Toro, by comparison, appears comfortable inside the hierarchy. His Barcelona win also gives UAE another card near the top of the standings.
Vingegaard still leaves Spain in yellow after his strong opening team time trial. He limited his loss to Pogačar to six bonus seconds and remains six seconds ahead overall.
Visma also had reason to view the finale calmly. Sports director Marc Reef indicated the team was satisfied that Vingegaard stayed right there.
Evenepoel also produced a sharp finish and sprinted to third on the stage. He moved to third overall, 15 seconds behind Vingegaard.
The Belgian believed a moment of hesitation may have cost him a chance at victory. Still, he already sits 30 seconds clear of Red Bull stablemate Florian Lipowitz.
Seixas endured a difficult afternoon but limited the damage. He recovered from a puncture, a near-crash and a tactical error to finish three seconds behind the front group.
That ride leaves Seixas sixth overall, 42 seconds down. For many contenders, the early Tour objective remains survival.
For Pogačar and UAE, stage 2 looked like something more. The Pogacar Barcelona gesture gave Del Toro a landmark win and left rivals with plenty to consider.