Michael Storer was one of the animators of the Tour de France 2025. Regularly on the attack, the Australian, teammate of Julian Alaphilippe at Tudor, even finished in the list of nominees for the Supercombatif. In a podcast this Thursday for servants, the former Groupama-FDJ returned over the last surprising week of Tadej Pogacar.
Yellow jersey on his shoulders, Tadej Pogacar obtained his last bouquet during the 13th stage. Then his attitude, to roll his team without giving the feeling of wanting to conclude, even ended up questioning the followers. “At least one day, I had information that Tadej had decided not to win the stage,” said Storer. “I find it a little strange to ask his team to ride all day long, then decide not to win the stage during the last ascent.”
Storer thinks that UAE management has chosen “not to take everything”
Before the last week of the Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar crushed the debates, with four stages on the clock. Without being in difficulty thereafter, he was rather content to defend his advance, not hesitating to display a certain weariness. “According to the information I obtained, the French fans hooked him and the management of the team decided that it was better that he did not win that day to keep French fans on his side,” continued Michael Storer. “So I suspect that they also took this into consideration the last week, so as not to take everything.”
Michael Storer takes a frustration from this fairly strange pogacar tactic and his team. “If you don’t want to win the stage, decide it in advance,” said the climber. “Let the escape leave and don’t crumble your whole team. I may be too old game, but for me, it’s much more logical.”
For Michael Storer, Tadej Pogacar “should probably not fight for each stage”. “You could see that the UAE team was at the end of the race. Tadej was also tired,” said the Australian. “It is therefore not a defensive race if you drive all day long.”
Original article published on RMC Sport
