Row between Evenepoel and Lipowitz: The first signs of a rift between the co-leaders?

Tadej Pogacar’s spectacular solo victory in Gavarnie-Gèdre was not the only talking point yesterday afternoon. After Jonas Vingegaard crossed the line in second place, two and a half minutes behind the Slovenian, Pogacar’s key domestique, Isaac del Toro, secured third place on the stage in a sprint against Remco Evenepoel – much to the chagrin of the Belgian, who was visibly unhappy with the lack of support from his co-leader Florian Lipowitz: “I’d asked for a lead-out and didn’t get one. At the Tour of Catalonia, I rode at the front for him for 30 kilometres,” the 26-year-old said angrily at the finish, adding: “I asked him to take over the lead-out for one kilometre. Nothing came of it. That made me angry and we need to discuss it this evening.”

Team manager Ralph Denk plays down the situation

“Yes, there was a bit of a disagreement, partly due to the language barrier and in the heat of the moment,” confirms Denk on the Red Bull racing team’s podcast, whilst putting the situation into perspective: “That was after a mountain stage of over 180 kilometres. It was no big deal. The lads have already talked it over, had a meal together and are laughing about it again.”

The The dual leadership of the unlikely duo So that situation remains unchanged. Remco Evenepoel is currently in fourth place in the general classification, 3 minutes and 30 seconds behind. Florian Lipowitz is a full four minutes behind the overall leader, Pogacar, and is therefore in seventh place. It therefore remains to be seen who will ultimately try to secure a place on the podium, and who will have to take a supporting role accordingly.