Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon CMA CGM) has downplayed any hint of malice in the stare he received from the Tour de France winner-in-waiting Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) on the Col de Sarenne towards the end of stage 20.
It was one of the most striking images of the Tour so far, Pogačar sauntering up alongside Prodhomme and turning to look him in the eyes for a good few seconds as he slipped back following an acceleration at the head of the small yellow jersey group.
Pogačar had set the tempo for most of the final 60km on behalf of his teammate Isaac del Toro, but Decathlon were looking to set their leader Paul Seixas up to attack the Mexican and try to take his spot on the overall podium.
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Prodhomme accelerated hard on the Sarenne and even gapped Pogačar, only to realise Seixas wasn't in the wheel but in the middle of the group and not looking a bit like an imminent attacker.
"He was maybe surprised that I did that," Prodhomme told reporters atop Alpe d'Huez, saying that it was nothing 'vicious' or 'intimidating'.
Prodhomme explained the wider context of the stare, which was that Pogačar had asked him to collaborate on the descent and in the valley between the Col du Galibier and the Col de Sarenne. However, citing Matthew Riccitello's presence in the breakaway, even if he was being saved to be used later, Decathlon declined the offer.
"He asked me to take some pulls, but we had Matthew in front, so there was no interest in riding for us," Prodhomme said.
"I felt that he wanted to show me that he wanted to ride [together] just so I don't go past him and try to toughen up the race. But it's our race [plan], that's the game.
"There was nothing vicious, it was... not intimidation either, but he was maybe surprised I did that."
In the end, the Seixas assault on Del Toro's podium spot fizzled out and faded away, with the Frenchman losing nearly two minutes by the finish.
"We had to try," said Prodhomme. "We threw everything at the podium. It didn't come off, but to be fourth in the Tour de France at 19 years of age is still enormous."
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