UAE Team Emirates led a team of elite climbers on stage 4 of the Tour de France, winning the Col de Galibier and leading Tadej Pogachar to victory and back into the yellow jersey.

Nils Pollitt, Marc Soler, and Tim Wellens held off the break on the flats and paced the final 23km of climbing.

Adam Yates, third in last year's Tour, was the first to make his move, sacrificing his own ambition for the leader. Joan Almeida and Juan Ayuso then took over on the climb with 4km to go, isolating Pogachar's rivals Jonas Vingegaard, Primos Roglic, and Remko Evenpoel.

Pogachar then jumped clear inside the last kilometer of the climb to complete the UAE Team Emirates masterpiece with a solo victory on the other side of the Valloire.

"It was a fantastic effort by the whole team, especially João Almeida and Juan Ayuso in Galibier, and finally Tadey Pogachal. It's an incredible, incredible achievement," coach Mauro Gianetti told Eurosport.

The UAE were in constant radio contact all the way to the top of the climb, and Almeida even instructed Ayuso to work further forward as they attacked the headwind in the Alps.

Before launching the winning attack at 19.7 km from Valloire, Pogachar demanded more pace.

"We needed to see and understand what the other teams were doing, not just the top teams. Taddei was in good form, so I asked him to pull more, try to attack and achieve this great victory."

Ayuso and Almeida crossed the line just as well, falling victim to the hellish pace of yellow jersey riders Richard Calapaz, Felix Gall, Egan Bernal, and Matteo Jorgenson.

"All eight of us were perfect. We're proud of what we did. It's just a shame about the headwind. I think we're looking good."

"It's great that Taddej improved his time and won a stage. I think me and Joanne were perfect together."

"It means a lot to be on a team like this, the best team in the world, and it's really great to work like this and be with the best team. I'm really happy for Taddei, to win by such a big margin."

When Pogachar dropped his bomb 800 meters from the top of the climb, Ayuso and Almeida were able to sit back on what Ayuso called a "dangerous" descent.

"[The descent] was really dangerous and limiting, but that's part of cycling. But I'm glad I was able to defend myself there," Ayuso said. He and Almeida emphasized that despite finishing the day in fourth and eighth place overall, respectively, the UAE has surrendered the lead to Pogachar.

"That is not the goal. The goal is to win with Tadej," Almeida replied when asked if the UAE could fill all three spots on the podium when the race ends in Nice. 'Of course, any extras are welcome, but I'm focused on working for Tadej.'

However, this option further solidifies UAE Team Emirates' already imposing position.

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