"He suffered like a dog": alarms went off about the UAE, but Matxin calms before the decisive stages

Three days before arriving in Paris and with the two most demanding alpine stages still to be contested, UAE Team Emirates-XRG experienced one of its most delicate moments of the 2026 Tour de France this Wednesday. The unexpected weakness of Adam Yates and a brief fainting spell from Isaac del Toro raised alarms about a possible outbreak of illness within the team that protects Tadej Pogačar's yellow jersey.

“He suffered like a dog,” but UAE calms alarms about the team's condition

Doubts arose during the stage when Yates, one of the main lieutenants of the Slovenian in the mountains, lost contact with the peloton very early and ended up completely dropped. Tim Wellens gave up any other mission to accompany the Briton to the finish, where both arrived practically closing the classification of the day, more than 26 minutes behind the winner.

His performance even raised fears of a possible withdrawal before the decisive high mountain stages. However, both Pogačar and sports director Matxin Joxean Fernández wanted to reassure the situation after the race.

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The Tour leader explained that Yates' problems began the day before, after the time trial, and that the Briton had competed under very difficult conditions.

“Adam was sick yesterday. He felt bad in the morning and suffered like a dog all day,” Pogačar explained after the stage.

The Slovenian added that his teammate seemed to have recovered before the start.

“This morning he looked much better, he was eating well, but when you have such a bad day like yesterday, you end up paying for it the next day. I hope he hasn't dug too deep a hole and that he feels better tomorrow.”

Matxin confirms Yates' illness

Shortly after, Matxin provided more details about the condition of the Briton, although he acknowledged that the team still has not been able to determine exactly what the source of his problems is.

According to the UAE director, Yates suffered from vomiting and chills during the previous day. Nevertheless, he assured that he had rested properly during the night and that he started the stage feeling good, before gradually losing strength.

The uncertainty increased when, during the stage, Isaac del Toro also momentarily lost contact with the group of favorites. The Mexican managed to return when the pace slowed and finished the day alongside the general classification men, but the scene made it seem that the illness could be spreading through the team.

Matxin was emphatic in dismissing that possibility: “Isaac is not sick; he finished ahead.”

UAE would benefit from recovering Yates for the decisive stages

The team's explanations reduce the initial concern, although Adam Yates' evolution will continue to be one of the major focal points in the coming hours.

With the last two alpine stages still to be contested, the Briton represents a key piece in the strategy of UAE Team Emirates-XRG. His ability to harden the pace on the climbs will be essential to control the attacks of Remco Evenepoel and the other podium contenders and allow Pogačar to face the defense of the yellow jersey with guarantees until the end of the Tour.