Pogačar Didn’t Just Gift Del Toro a Stage. He Sent a Message.

Tadej Pogačar could have sprinted victory and possibly into the yellow jersey Sunday.

The explosive stage 2 circuit finale up Montjuic was tailor-made for the afterburners of the four-time Tour de France champion.

Instead he played kingmaker.

In the frenetic final charge, Pogačar read the wheels — teammate Isaac del Toro in front and everyone else behind — and he made sure of the result.

Rather than kicking for a 22nd career stage win, time bonuses and possibly the yellow jersey, Pogačar gave away the biggest prize he could — Del Toro’s first Tour stage win just two days into the Mexican’s Tour debut.

“It means really everything. You cannot believe how much we work to be here. I cannot believe just what I did,” Del Toro said.

“I also appreciate Tadej, being on the same team for him, how much it means for me and my country.”

It was another feel-good moment in the growing friendship between the world No. 1 and the rider whom some believe can inherit his throne.

But are Pogačar and UAE Emirates-XRG so strong and confident that they can already start gifting stages just two days into the 2026 Tour? Maybe.

‘It was Tadej’s decision’

Three ascents of Montjuïc turned Barcelona into a furnace for the Tour’s first road stage.

Somewhat surprisingly, UAE Emirates-XRG waited until the last lap.

Brandon McNulty detonated the peloton with a savage pull that left only the strongest. Matteo Jorgenson emptied himself trying to defend Jonas Vingegaard’s yellow jersey.

Del Toro covered a late attack and thought he was setting up Pogačar for the win, just as the team scripted before the stage.

Instead of pulling through, Pogačar played cat and mouse with the chasing rivals. Remco Evenepoel came too late for third, and Vingegaard scrapped by in fourth but missed the time bonuses to defend yellow by 6 seconds.

“Brandon worked on the final lap and did something special,” said UAE sport director Andrej Hauptman. “It was Tadej’s decision to let Isaac win like this.”

Rubbing up against cycling’s long held tradition of “no gifts,” Pogačar just gave one away to an entire nation.

Del Toro joins Raúl Alcalá as the only Mexican to ever win a Tour stage.

“This is the sign of a true champion and shows the character of Tadej,” said UAE sport manager Joxean Matxín Fernández. “He is the world’s biggest star but he wants to help his teammates because they help him.”

Mexico’s new national hero

There was pandemonium at the UAE Emirates-XRG bus.

Rider after rider pushed through the massive crowd, many of them from Mexico cheering on their national hero.

Pogačar — still decked out in the polka-dot jersey of the best climber — got a huge cheer from the partisan crowd.

Pogačar wrapped a Mexican flag around his shoulders as he cooled down on the rollers.

The crowd chanted: “Pogi Hermano, eres un Mexicano!” — Brother Pogi, you’re a Mexican!

Pogačar soaked it up with trademark it’s-all-fun-for-me attitude, posed for photos, signed autographs, and celebrated with staffers.

The gesture was authentic. The pair have grown close over the past two seasons, with Del Toro playing the loyal (and super strong) sidekick to King Pog.

Pogačar even joked at the start of this Tour that he’d like to see Del Toro win the yellow jersey.

Maybe he wasn’t joking after all.