Tour de France 2026 Stage 9 Recap | Tadej Pogačar Tried to DESTROY Mathieu van der Poel’s Breakaway

Mathieu van der Poel launched one of the most spectacular breakaway attacks of the 2026 Tour de France, but all eyes quickly turned to Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Why were the yellow jersey's team helping to chase? Was it the right tactical decision, or did they risk creating unnecessary enemies in the peloton?In this Stage 9 recap, we break down every key tactical moment, from Van der Poel's incredible ride to the decisions made behind him by Pogačar, UAE, Visma | Lease a Bike, and the rest of the peloton. We also discuss how the stage impacts the general classification, what it tells us ahead of the mountains, and whether this was a missed opportunity—or a masterclass in race control.Was Pogačar trying to protect yellow, send a message to his rivals, or simply racing on instinct? Join us as we analyze one of the most talked-about stages of the 2026 Tour de France.Let us know your thoughts in the comments: Should UAE have chased Van der Poel's breakaway, or should they have let the move go?