Tadej Pogacar continues to dominate the Tour de France. Day after day, his advantage over his rivals grows and the yellow jersey seems increasingly secure on the Slovenian's shoulders. But in the thirteenth stage, won at Belfort by Mauro Schmid, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader chose a different strategy: no attacks, no unnecessary risks. Just control.

A day that was anything but simple. The race started at an impressive pace and for the first three hours the peloton traveled at over 50 kilometers per hour. Up front, a massive breakaway of around fifty riders made the situation even more complex. For Pogacar, in the yellow jersey, every move had to be carefully evaluated.

«Yesterday was a really tough and very fast day. I'm happy it's over - Pogacar said after the finish line - It's definitely very stressful for whoever wears the yellow jersey to have to understand and analyze everything that happens at the front of the group, especially when there are groups of 50 riders breaking away. In those moments you have to be able to think and react very quickly».

UAE Team Emirates-XRG, however, managed the situation without losing control, even though during the race today, Wellens formed a UAE pairing with Brandon McNulty at the front of the race. But they weren't able to fully capitalize on their advantage. Communication between Pogacar and his teammates worked and the group of favorites was able to face the finale with relative peace of mind.

«I think yesterday we managed the situation quite well with the team guys. We communicated well and everything went smoothly. We had everything under control. We knew it would be a complicated day, but in the end the situation resolved much better than I expected».

Also facilitating the task of the yellow jersey was the presence of Tom Pidcock in the breakaway. The Briton, protagonist of a great move, managed to gain ground in the general classification, entering the top five. A result that, paradoxically, lightened the workload for Pogacar's team.

«I think it was even better for us that Tom Pidcock was up front. Thanks to him, the other teams were forced to work and take control. In the finale the chase was on their side and this allowed us to stay well compact in the last 30 kilometers».

Schmid's victory thus decided a stage in which Pogacar preferred not to concede anything to his rivals, but also not to waste unnecessary energy. The Tour, after all, is now entering its most delicate phase.

Today we return to the mountains, towards Le Markstein, a place that holds special memories for Pogacar. In 2023 the Slovenian won precisely on those roads, even though at the end of the Tour it was Jonas Vingegaard who claimed the yellow jersey.

«Markstein is a magnificent place that brings back beautiful memories for me. Even though I didn't win the Tour that year, I won the stage there. I can't wait to climb it again tomorrow and enjoy the crowds».

The message is clear: Pogacar has no intention of slowing down. After controlling a chaotic and very fast day, the Slovenian now returns to the mountains. And if the yellow jersey remains the primary objective, his attacking instinct could resurface. Because in his cycling, even when the best defense is control, attack always remains a possibility.