# 'There are bodies everywhere' – Tadej Pogačar plays down wave of illness within UAE camp at Tour de France

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-24 00:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
A wave of stomach illness hits UAE Team Emirates at the Tour, prompting withdrawals and raising doubts for Tadej Pogačar’s chances

## Intelligence Brief
Multiple riders from the UAE Team Emirates‑XRG squad are battling a stomach‑related illness as the Tour de France enters its final stages. Coverage notes that Adam Yates struggled with stomach problems and a time cut on stage 17, while Brandon McNulty abandoned the race on stage 18.


The team’s leader, Tadej Pogačar, acknowledged the situation but downplayed its severity, describing the scene as “there are bodies everywhere.” Outlets such as Yahoo, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Outside Magazine and The Guardian focus on the spread of illness, mixed messages from the camp, and the practical impact on race tactics. Articles highlight that the squad is short‑handed for the upcoming Alpe d’Huez climb after McNulty’s exit and warn that a stomach virus could affect Pogačar’s performance.


Watch for updates on Pogačar’s condition and the team’s strategy in the remaining mountain stages, especially the Alpe d’Huez segment. Further withdrawals or performance shifts could reshape the final classification as the Tour concludes.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Yahoo | Adam Yates struggles against stomach problems and time cut to survive stage 17 of Tour de France | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxPd2syc0JuWTFfT3djUjhVR2dnZHRjdGYxdjFvM1gzUDJkaDFyUjVhWnlMajZEZFFvZkNhY0NRREhhUktYUnhrb2RxcWNkY0pDSHRQaVBDeVI0UlVROVJOSGdVbGZyWFFXcHltYTFpWmlTZnlnVmw1Zy1xanAwRUIyd012YkdJTG85TGZrMlp4N1JWaV96OFhZ?oc=5) |
| Cyclingnews | Sick soldiers and mixed messages – What's really going on at UAE Team Emirates-XRG and how will it change the last days of the Tour de France? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAJBVV95cUxPaVc3c1ZPc3BUYzNxT2ZkZUtqUWM3S0FmQUlFeUk4VmR4UzlkVkp1am9fV2haZEFYOG43VnVHSkhYWTkwSE9xNzJnNHRMZFgzSzFhbjRqT0NZVHNPMTVUN3U2UHFlRmZIMVVBZXY3WjJLNXVQMjY2Rm1JaEZjLW5hNEdNX1gwMXo1QlpUZHV5NFlydGk0ZTAtc3F6UC12dFRxM2tGSEgyZzc4Yks1NXBaMVloQlB6S0xQekZDT3RsNGlxZkFNcDhVdFptQnVQNk12ODV6UDloNUhvTFBKLWlBXzZHZHVtSzNXSVNORW44M0RYUDhRbWUyMGx0QzZxNmtvaEZDQjc1VTBjV0pIcVR1dG14TlE?oc=5) |
| Cyclingnews | Brandon McNulty abandons the Tour de France on stage 18 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxPTXN2MnV2MXpZMno4bGRrNkhHMjJxTVZqdjRGaFkwbWF4eDBoNzRIZTJHNlRpVnhHMFhJNjh5MVhDVnFTbzlXLVZKamlUSjVyWnVKVzJUT1RScmh3NGN0RXZ2VExqak1RYU1BTGZaRkpNcEFjX3NaTUwzTHFNSGhoWXltNU1pbDRtZURaQnlmeTdpenJVUDFtTTVSaFRDZDRONXphd1llY2owWElTRmc?oc=5) |
| Cycling Weekly | ‘Many riders are ill in the bunch’ – could a stomach virus deny Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de France? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi4AFBVV95cUxNemc2bC1VNVJmTmhUSlB3dlhEa1J4aV9yTzlsMUV0ZzhwTC1zMmR6bzlITDRrWWVhM3RZSVBSZzF5MUV3RGpodlNISEJCSUxvWk9KRmhvRnVjNGszZ201cGtKa2d2MzVXRXJuMDhiblZjNC1VcVpfa3BLNnVVaHA2R19FNE9Kemc2RkdWR1c0Ri0xeW51WGZjdVJ5Q0ZvMHN0bVF5ZVBkTlhQcjZ2WlVRS1ZUM0lza1ljck4xWmluS2RTZUE5N1FTMkZDcGN6YnpHdkwxNXZ3dUVRLVBGRVJsRw?oc=5) |
| Outside Magazine | Tadej Pogačar Short-Handed for Alpe d'Huez After Brandon McNulty Exit | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1wFBVV95cUxOQUhFenBPZlZWY0FseTgxNFBudjJYQWJVc0JNMEw2eEpuUmdhZElhOEdPLUtQRFotaTY1Wm5GOHZQRTBlZHNRTlhQSEVxdHlwZHNORzBsanJNVHduVTJGR2lsY0NScDByTFlYSmFXYm5yeUxXcmVNalNGalVIZXJYSWhCTm1xRmYtZjdQZDA3azZFdGdmS0NmR0pIM3QxYmZnbUVqRHpMR3hxMW92Vl9qempZSDBScWQ2SjlZOXBnX00zZXlEMzc2N1NrYUkwdnJrSjg0SXA1Zw?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | Tour de France worries emerge for Tadej Pogacar after illness sweeps through team | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxQaHJsLXl2d3NXekNRNDFwdndKSEVMUU1sZzVNaUx3ZE1YMG9JS2VOZksxcVlpNUQxMjR1dS16RlBDZ2pzWDMtNkxIcHcwVHRTcG1iUkEtNGlVaWdhcHpNM2VNc2JmekVaeXA0SjBrTTRiU0VrZzNOYURQQnlSZnJVUWdaSGJ1aTk4bGtPU0lZaU91R0poM1hKWFJ3TkM4T3BSaWRhSnh5UW1WZUJtTDY4MnJBNXJWakZXMHNB?oc=5) |
| Cyclingnews | 'There are bodies everywhere' – Tadej Pogačar plays down wave of illness within UAE camp at Tour de France | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi7AFBVV95cUxPZ3dYNUVXOUlSS3pDbmw5aWV0OW9vV2RtX2RRa2s0UDQ1NHRDMUJISkdBNnUtaWluaG1uQ0R6YXRQdndLdV9tRDlKNzhJRUp6aVktTDlneUw1WWZ2MEdxREFVZk1FRjNwNEtlT1RKUi1KWjdLMTliS250MzBZT1ZLa3hBcG1tRmhNS0I4R1gwWDViWlRrckZTb1E0Z3pKTkh4Q2lYSHZRb2ZCV182YXoyVkdzUXhhdDFCNk9jVlRKa01KdjNTOHFMUHpQblpMcE9oUm5Cc1lZbEsxdEU4TVd0d2RlSHRpc3dGYVJzWQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-24/there-are-bodies-everywhere-tadej-pogacar-plays-down-wave-of-illness-within-uae*