Ineos, Geraint Thomas and Co. 'were hanging on by their fingernails' at Tour de France – Robbie McEwen

Ineos Grenadiers may have the numerical advantage at the Tour de France but it matters for little without the power, claims 12-time stage winner Robbie McEwen. Ineos were primed for an assault on the yellow jersey in the final week with a full quota of eight riders still in the race, while Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates have thinner support casts to guide Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar through the yellow jersey battle.

Ad/> Jumbo have lost Primoz Roglic and Steven Kruijswijk to injury, while a Covid outbreak in the UAE camp has seen George Bennett and Vegard Stake Laengen abandon. Tour de FranceHoule soloes to Stage 16 win as Vingegaard shuts down Pogacar attacks3 HOURS AGO With plenty of matches to burn, Ineos were fancied to attempt something on Stage 16 as the race hit the Pyrenees.

Instead, they were exposed by the climbing prowess of Pogacar – who launched a spree of furious attacks – and Vingegaard. Geraint Thomas was gapped on the final climb but finished with his two main GC rivals after being propelled into the group of favourites by team-mate Dani Martinez, while Adam Yates and Tom Pidcock both dropped down the order in the overall top 10.

“We thought they were sitting pretty but it turns out they were hanging on by their fingernails,” said McEwen. “Pidcock was dropped, Adam Yates was finally distanced and Geraint Thomas was just off that group of favourites and made his way back on.