WorldTour racing resumes in next week at the seven-stage UAE Tour, with some of the top riders in the peloton set to face off for the red jersey, but it’s Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hanshrohe) that the focus will be on as the favourite.
The Belgian returns to the UAE three years after claiming overall victory in 2023 ahead of Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who will also be back in 2026, but it’s the Brit’s young Mexican teammate, Isaac del Toro, who is expected to provide the biggest challenge.
There’s no title defence from Tadej Pogačar, and Jonas Vingegaard’s planned participation was cancelled due to a recent crash and illness, but there are still several riders who will be looking to upset Evenepoel and Del Toro in the desert.
Across the seven stages, where crosswinds can always affect the general classification, especially on the flat, exposed days – as they did in 2023 when Evenepoel took victory – the battle for red is expected to come down to the stage 2 time trial and two key climbing days.
Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
Remco Evenepoel has hit the ground running with his new team for 2026, and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe will be hoping he keeps the momentum flowing into his first WorldTour event of the season, with that GC triumph at the 2023 edition being his last at cycling’s top…
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