Robbie McEwen says Alberto Bettiol's tactic of pulling for Tadej Pogacar in Stage 5 was 'horrendous'

EF Education-Easypost rider Alberto Bettiol's support for rival Tadej Pogacar during Stage 5 of the Tour de France was «horrendous», according to Eurosport's Robbie McEwen. With two team members up the road during the stage's cobbled section and one of them — Neilson Powless — in with a chance of taking the yellow jersey at the end of the day's racing, Bettiol inexplicably decided to hit the front of the chasing group, upping the tempo and allowing GC contender and UAE Team Emirates' Tadej Pogacar to make up some of the lost ground. Ad/> The goings-on didn't stop after the stage either, with Bettiol's team boss Jonathan Vaughters tweeting that it would be an «interesting debrief» and Bettiol retweeting a still image of him doing his work for Pogacar.

/> Tour de France'Horrendous' — Breakaway team discuss Bettiol tactic and EF tensions4 HOURS AGO Eurosport's 'Breakaway' team were among those at a loss to explain it. McEwen said: «I think there will be some harsh words spoken in that team — and there should be. »It was horrendous.

Clarke takes last-gasp Stage 5 win in chaotic day on the cobbles 'Most animated cobble stage in Tour history' — Wiggins on stage 5 'carnage' Roglic dislocates shoulder after hitting hay bale — before putting it back in himself «You've got Magnus Cort and Neilson Powless in the breakaway with a healthy lead — Powless is leader on the road. »And then his team-mate [Bettiol] back in the bunch starts drilling it across the cobbled sections with Pogacar in his wheel. «Someone's going to have to ask him why.