This video (below) just after the finish of yesterday’s Tour of Flanders shows Tadej Pogačar confronting Dylan van Baarle in an angry manner. The Tour de France champion was clearly very unhappy with the Dutch rider’s finishing sprint.
In the middle of the melee is Wexford man Luke Maguire, one of the senior members of media staff at UAE Team Emirates. Maguire is the staff member with his hand on Pogačar’s back during some of the footage below and he plays his part in trying to calm the incident.
Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) did an incredible job during the race and came to the finish with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin Fenix) for what seemed like a two-up sprint to decide the winner.
However, the two leaders rode a very tactical race up the finishing straight and slowed right down, allowing Van Baarle (Ineos Grenadiers) and Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) to catch them.
Just as that duo made the juncture, Van der Poel opened his sprint and led all the way to the line. Pogačar wasn’t as able for the cut and thrust of the fast-shifting scenario and allowed Van Baarle and Madouas draw level with him and then pass him.
And when both riders boxed him in – with Madouas to his right and Van Baarle to his left – Pogačar’s path was blocked and he couldn’t open his sprint. He looked furious as Van Baarle subtly moved to his right to further frustrate anyone passing him from behind, but the Dutchman’s move was far from out of the ordinary, though it further squeezed Pogačar.
He mostly held his position in the road despite Pogačar taking his hand off the bars to try and push Van Baarle out of his way; a major no-no in sprinting at this level. In the end, Van der Poel won from Van Baarle and Madouas.
Pogačar had to settle for 4th despite looking the strongest during many of the key moments in the race. The Slovenian was simply outfoxed when things changed very quickly right at the finish but he has marked himself out as a man for the cobbled classics in the years to come.
Pog looking uncharacteristically annoyed
