Evenepoel, Del Toro among favourites for UAE Tour

A total of 145 riders will line up on Monday for the opening stage of the eighth edition of the UAE Tour, organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and presented by AD Ports Group, the one and only UCI World Tour race in the Middle East will once again feature a star-studded field.

Among the big names targeting the Red Jersey are Remco Evenepoel, winner of the 2023 edition and already boasting six victories this season, and Isaac Del Toro, making his seasonal debut after a 2025 campaign highlighted by 18 wins.

Also set to start is another former winner of the race, Lennert Van Eetvelt (2024). Other riders aiming to break into the fight for the top positions in the final general classification include Felix Gall, Derek Gee, Adam Yates, Ben O’Connor, Antonio Tiberi, Michael Storer, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Ben Tulett, Pablo Castrillo and David Gaudu.

Evenepoel will also be the rider to beat in the individual time trial on Al Hudayriyat Island, with Joshua Tarling, Dan Hoole and Luke Plapp as his main challengers.

In the stages tailored for the sprinters, all eyes will be on Jonathan Milan, Green Jersey winner in 2025, where he claimed two stage victories. The sprint field also includes Sam Welsford, Fabio Jakobsen, Casper Van Uden, Ethan Vernon, Juan Sebastián Molano, Matteo Malucelli, Alberto Dainese, Erlend Blikra, and young riders Daniel Skerl and Steffen De Schuyteneer.

Evenepoel: “One of my goals this year is to win more one-week World Tour races and the UAE Tour is an opportunity to do so with a time trial and hilly stages. Usually the strongest guy here wins and that’s what we’re here for. It’s pretty special for me to be back here. As my second family is Arabic as well, the UAE Tour is a race I’d like to do every year when it fits into my program. The season has started very well for me and I’ll try to make the most beautiful race as possible for the fans here too”.

Since its inaugural 2019 edition — won by Primoz Roglic — the race has been a home stronghold for UAE Team Emirates XRG, who have claimed three overall titles through Tadej Pogacar.

The Slovenian’s most recent triumph came in 2025, when he finished 1:14 ahead of Giulio Ciccone in the general classification.

However, Pogacar will miss this year’s edition, which starts Monday at Madinat Zayed Majlis, with his 2026 campaign set to begin at Strade Bianche in Tuscany on March 7.

In his absence, Adam Yates and Del Toro will lead the charge

Del Toro said: I feel the pressure a little bit pressure, but it’s because the UAE Tour is my first race this year. I know it’s also the home race for my team. I did some tests in Mexico before coming and it was quite ok. It’s something big to have the confidence of the team for this race. I’m privileged to be in this position. Remco [Evenepoel] is the favourite for the palmares he has. I also hope to be one of the best riders this week”.

Jonathan Milan: “I’m really happy with the start of the season I’ve had in Saudi Arabia. I feel ready for this week, I’m really confident. After the experience I had here last year, I was looking forward to coming back. Hopefully there will be some cross winds to have fun on the bike”.