Meanwhile, in the lead group, many teams were down to just their Core Commander, who could barely hang on to the pace set by the UAE Team.
For instance, the Trek Team and the Bahrain Victory Team only had their respective leaders, Ciccone and Bilbao, who were just managing to stay with the front group.
As for the teams with two riders remaining, besides himself and Roglič, there was only the Visma Team with Vingegaard and Jorgenson, the Ineos Grenadiers Team with Bernal and C. Rodríguez, and the Quick Step Team with Evenepoel and Landa.
But the UAE Team, even after Soler had blown himself up pulling at the front, still had an impressive four riders.
Their leader, Pogačar, and his lieutenants: Almeida, Ayuso, and Adam Yates.
And at this moment, they were all at the front of the group, starting to lead their main rider and power toward the summit of Galibier Mountain.
