"Not just Pogacar": UAE boss acknowledges all rider that helped the team reach historic 86 triumphs

September 21 will be remembered as a special day for UAE Team Emirates - XRG. While many were thinking of the summer's farewell, the Emirati team celebrated an unprecedented achievement in cycling: the 86th victory of the season, beating an all-time record that left behind Team Columbia-HTC in 2009 with 85.

The architect of this feat was Brandon McNulty, who, by winning the general classification of Tour de Luxembourg, not only made history for his team, but also marked the end of a path of effort shared by the entire team.

Mauro Gianetti, founder, manager and CEO of UAE, did not hide his excitement when talking about this milestone. For him, the 86 victories represent more than just numbers; they are the result of teamwork that has involved riders, mechanics, masseurs and coaches.

"It was a giant number, but we knew we had the tools to reach it. Each victory was another step on a road we all wanted to travel together," said Gianetti in an interview with bici.pro.

Unlike other formations, such as Soudal - Quick-Step or Visma | Lease a Bike, which rely heavily on pure sprinters, UAE Emirates has shown that it can succeed in a different way.

With a diverse team that includes climbers such as Tadej Pogacar and Juan Ayuso, as well as versatile riders such as McNulty and Soler, the team has achieved victories on all types of terrain.

Gianetti acknowledges that, while the number of grand tour victories has been achieved by the likes of Pogacar, the real value of the season has been the team's ability to involve everyone. "Not just Pogacar. We've seen victories from riders like Filippo Baroncini, who got his first stage race win, or Wellens' victory in the Tour," Gianetti explained.

One of the keys to UAE's success is its team philosophy. Although Pogacar, with 16 wins this season, is the undisputed star, Gianetti has emphasized that the collective mentality plays a crucial role. "In our structure, every rider knows that, in the end, everyone can win. They feel supported, and that gives them the confidence to perform at their best," the CEO stressed.

Riders like Covi, who has not hesitated to take his chances, exemplify that collective ambition. "The group is more important than any individual victory. Our riders go into races with the mentality that they can win, but without the pressure of having to win," Gianetti said.

Not everything has been happy for UAE this season. One of the most painful moments was Del Toro's defeat in the Giro d'Italia, where, in a matter of minutes, the dream of the maglia rosa vanished due to a tactical blackout on Monte Finestre. Gianetti is quick to acknowledge the lesson learned: "It was a difficult moment, but also a learning experience. We thought Yates would be left behind, but he wasn't. We learned not to underestimate him. We learned never to underestimate any rival."

Despite this failure, UAE has shown impressive resilience, analyzing its mistakes and always looking to the future. Gianetti is optimistic about the challenges ahead: "We can't aim for 100 victories, but we can aim to keep adding up to make life difficult for those who want to beat our record."