The importance of the Tour de France is such that even the smallest incident is analyzed in minute detail, especially when it involves the main favorites. The latest case concerns an alleged push by Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) on Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) during a feed zone on the seventh stage to Mûr-de-Bretagne.

The World Champion confirmed that he gave a small push to Jorgenson, who had moved inside him to get a water bottle in the final 15 km of the stage. Pogačar emphasized, however, that this isn't the first time similar incidents have occurred with Visma riders.

"We were in line at the aid station, and I signaled my intention to get the water bottle from my assistant, who was 20 meters behind the Visma assistant," Pogačar explained. "They decided to pass on the right, so to get my water bottle, I had no choice but to give them a little push."

The Slovenian rider called for more respect in the peloton, pointing out that Visma often acts as if they were the only team entitled to refreshments. Jorgenson was more laconic, limiting himself to saying he had missed a water bottle.

Grischa Niermann, Visma's sports director, tried to defuse the situation: "It's a normal racing incident. Maybe we should tell our assistants to stand further apart." When asked about Pogačar's request for respect, he replied bluntly: "The same goes for him."

The rivalry between UAE Team Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike continues to be a major theme of this Tour, but as UAE CEO Mauro Gianetti emphasized: "It's a great competition; we push each other to improve. Sometimes they win, sometimes we win."

For fantasy cycling fans, these episodes underscore the importance of following not only the results but also the dynamics between teams, which can influence the strategies and performances of the riders in subsequent stages.