Wout van Aert responded to Tadej Pogačar's recent criticism as tactical tensions between teams intensified during the Tour de France. Pogačar leads the race while his UAE team and Visma compete fiercely for team classification. Criticism arose from Vingegaard's wife regarding Visma's strategy of pursuing stage victories instead of prioritizing team leader Vingegaard's placement. During stage 15, Van Aert, initially targeted for a strong performance, finished fourth as UAE's Tim Wellens claimed victory, sparking further contention over race strategies employed by Visma despite Vingegaard facing challenges.
Pogačar's comment touched a nerve at Visma due to criticism from Vingegaard's wife about the team focusing on stage victories with Van Aert instead of protecting Vingegaard.
Visma targeted stage 15 to Carcassonne with Van Aert, while UAE's Tim Wellens infiltrated the break and ultimately secured their fifth stage victory.
Pogačar expressed annoyance over the three Visma riders trying to break away while Vingegaard was in pursuit, emphasizing the race dynamics at play.
Van Aert dismissed Pogačar's criticisms as humorous, maintaining a light-hearted demeanor despite the competitive tensions evident in the race.
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