Gall may dream of Vuelta victory after Pogacar exit, Mühlberger criticizes team tactics

Changed starting position after Pogacar's exit

His compatriot Gregor Mühlberger, meanwhile, was dissatisfied with his team's tactics after the stage. He said verbatim: "Vielleicht war ich ein bisschen zu früh im Wind." With this, he meant that he had spent too long at the front of the peloton in a decisive phase of the race without using the slipstream, which cost him unnecessary energy. The statement was directed against the team's agreements, which apparently not all riders implemented equally.

Mühlberger's criticism weighs all the heavier because team tactics can decide between victory and defeat at a Grand Tour. Whoever rides alone too early loses energy that will be missing in the decisive mountain stages. The Decathlon team, for which Mühlberger rides, must therefore sort out internally how the upcoming stages will be approached strategically.

Mühlberger's criticism of the team tactics

It is awaited with excitement whether the upcoming stages will bring the Austrian further forward. Enric Mas, one of the co-favorites for the overall victory, lies only just behind Gall in the general classification and is likely also working toward his first Grand Tour victory. The duel between Gall and Mas could shape the Vuelta in the coming days.

For cycling in Austria, the current situation is a rare highlight. With Felix Gall and Gregor Mühlberger, two domestic professionals are in the spotlight at a Grand Tour. Gall could enter the history of Austrian cycling with a stage win or the overall victory, should he hold his form.

Duel for the overall victory

The competition will be broadcast live on Spanish television and via Eurosport. The mountain stages of the coming days are considered the decisive tests for the general classification. Should Gall defend his position, the celebration among the domestic fans, for example in Nußdorf, would be great.

Overall, the Vuelta shows how quickly the dynamics of a race can change. Pogacar's exit has reordered the classification, and Gall is seizing the opportunity. Mühlberger's criticism of the team tactics simultaneously shows that behind the scenes, nerves and strategy play just as big a role as the riders' legs.

The upcoming stages will show whether Gall can realize the dream of a Vuelta victory or whether the competition, led by Enric Mas, will strike back once more. For Austria, it is about a historic moment in cycling.