Al Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi – Remco Evenepoel begins his 2026 UAE Tour campaign on Monday with a clear goal beyond simply adding another victory to his impressive palmarès: improving a statistic that highlights a gap between his overall success and that of his biggest rivals. Despite 72 professional victories to date, the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider has only secured three WorldTour general classification (GC) triumphs – the 2022 Vuelta a España, the 2020 Tour de Pologne and the 2023 UAE Tour itself.
Evenepoel, already boasting six victories this season, acknowledges the importance of elevating his performance at the highest level of the sport. “At this stage of my career, WorldTour wins matter more to me than ProTour wins,” he told reporters on Sunday, ahead of the race’s opening stage. The UAE Tour presents a key opportunity for the Belgian to add to that tally, featuring both a challenging individual time trial and hilly stages suited to his strengths.
The discrepancy in WorldTour success is particularly noticeable when compared to competitors like Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard. Pogačar has achieved 19 GC wins, with a remarkable 73 percent (14 wins) coming at the WorldTour level. Vingegaard’s record shows a 64 percent split – seven WorldTour victories out of 11 overall wins. Evenepoel’s 23 percent, while still indicative of a highly successful career, underscores the ambition to consistently compete and win at the sport’s most prestigious events.
The eight edition of the UAE Tour, organized by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and presented by AD Ports Group, features a star-studded field of 145 riders. The race is the first UCI World Tour event of the season in the Middle East, and will run from February 16th to February 22nd.
A Familiar Race with Personal Significance
Evenepoel returns to the UAE Tour as a past champion, having triumphed in 2023, besting Luke Plapp and Adam Yates for the overall title. He expressed his enthusiasm for the race, citing a personal connection that adds extra motivation. “One of my goals this year is to win more one-week WorldTour races and the UAE Tour is an opportunity to do so with a time trial and hilly stages,” Evenepoel stated. “Usually the strongest guy here wins and that’s what we’re here for. It’s pretty special for me to be back here.”
That personal connection stems from his wife, Oumii Rayane, whose Moroccan roots and Islamic faith resonate with the cultural context of the race. Evenepoel spoke about the importance of this connection in an Instagram post last April, emphasizing the value of shared beliefs and cultural understanding. “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,” he explained on Sunday.
Del Toro and a Strong Contender Field
While Evenepoel is widely considered the favorite, he faces stiff competition from a strong field of riders. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG), a rising star in the sport, acknowledges the pressure but is eager to prove himself. “I feel the pressure a little bit, but it’s as the UAE Tour is my first race this year,” Del Toro said. “I understand it’s also the home race for my team. Remco is the favorite for the palmares he has. I also hope to be one of the best riders this week.”
The withdrawal of Jonas Vingegaard due to a crash and illness has removed one significant obstacle, but Pogačar’s absence is also notable. Other contenders include 2020 winner Adam Yates (UAE Emirates-XRG), Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), Ben O’Connor (Team Jayco-AlUla), Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek), and Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team). Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) is expected to dominate the sprint stages, having won the Green Jersey in 2025 with two stage victories.
Key Stages and Strategic Opportunities
The UAE Tour’s route presents several opportunities for Evenepoel and his rivals to gain an advantage. The race begins Monday with a flat stage to Liwa Palace, followed by a stage 2 individual time trial where Evenepoel hopes to establish an early lead. Uphill finishes on stages 3 (Jebel Mobrah) and 6 (Jebel Hafeet) will be crucial for GC contenders. Stages 4, 5, and 7 are likely to favor sprinters, but could also see tactical maneuvers from the overall contenders.
Evenepoel is focused on maximizing his performance in the time trial. “In the time trial, there are few turns, and that can work in my favor,” he said. “I wish it were longer than 12 kilometers, but you have to make do with what you obtain. I will strive to win that stage and gain time there.” He also acknowledged the strength of the UAE Emirates team, led by Del Toro and Yates, anticipating a challenging battle for the overall victory.
The coming days will reveal whether Evenepoel can capitalize on his form and strategic opportunities to add another WorldTour title to his name, and further close the gap in his statistical comparison to the sport’s leading riders. The UAE Tour promises a compelling contest, with a field of talented cyclists vying for supremacy in the Middle Eastern sun.
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