"It is not the intention to bring only pure domestiques": UAE Team Emirates admit that Pascal Ackermann may share leadership duties at Giro d'Italia

UAE Team Emirates is thinking about going with Pascal Ackermann as the team sprint leader for this year edition of Giro d'Italia according to German journal Die Rheinpfalz. The team sponsored by the Middle Eastern country will have João Almeida as their main rider for the General Classification of the race for a fourth consecutive time.

The aim of the Team with João Almeida is to get at least a podium finish, although they also believe the victory is possible. It is known that along with João Almeida, UAE Team Emirates will have Diego Ulissi, Alessandro Covi and Jay Vine.

The first 2 are cyclists that certainly will have a role of helping their leaders but at the same try some stages (specially Ulissi) and Jay Vine already said that he also would like to try his chances at the General Classification.

But now rumors appear that the team would also like to have a main sprinter presence. Ackermann who rode the Giro once in 2019 with very successful performance as he achieved 2 stage victories and the Points classification, seems the most likely candidate. With this it is also very possible that the German sprinter will bring at least 2 riders to help him in his lead out diminishing UAE strength on the mountains.

Almeida will be the undisputed leader, but it is no secret that UAE Team Emirates will bring some riders that have to role to help João but with some degrees of freedom.

"It is not the intention to bring only pure domestiques, but João Almeida is the leader. There is no discussion about that. There is always a lot of respect for the leader and the riders who have a domestique role with us have quite a list of honors themselves.", said team manager Joxean Fernández late last year.