UAE Team Emirates faced significant challenges during Stage 18 of the Tour de France as illness and injuries weakened the squad supporting overall leader Tadej Pogacar.
Brandon McNulty abandoned the race due to illness, while Tim Wellens barely made the time limit by two minutes and 15 seconds after helping teammate Adam Yates navigate the course.
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Yates had been battling severe stomach issues and vomiting during earlier stages. Team manager Mauro Gianetti reported slight improvement before Thursday's stage.
"Fortunately, Adam feels better today," Gianetti said. "His stomach problems are almost behind him.
He feels a bit empty, because yesterday he obviously didn't eat."
Gianetti emphasized Yates's importance for the upcoming high-altitude mountain stages.
"He knows he will suffer, but on Friday and Saturday he should still be able to operate at 90 percent of his capacity," he said.
Team Implements Isolation Measures
Wellens revealed before the stage that multiple team members were battling illness, prompting strict isolation protocols.
"I don't feel so great myself either.
I have a sore throat, some mucus, and just don't feel very well in my skin," Wellens said.
"But more than half of our team is still in top form. Tadej still looks very good."
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The team separated sick riders in the team bus and during meals. "Everyone has separate rooms, and in the bus the sick sit apart from the healthy.
