Preview UAE Tour 2026 - Remco Evenepoel and Isaac del Toro have their first big 2026 battle

From the 16th to the 22nd of February, the peloton will be in the Middle East for what is the second World Tour stage-race of the season: the UAE Tour. The race, characterized by its flat stages and hot weather, will once again host some of the world's very best. We preview the race ahead.

The race was only created in 2019, off the back of the success of other events such as the Abu Dhabi Tour and the Dubai Tour. The region, host to large financial capacity, hot weather in February, and its World Tour status, has managed to attract big figures on a yearly basis. Its first edition, in 2019, immediately saw Primoz Roglic take the overall win ahead of then World Champion Alejandro Valverde.

With the growth of UAE Team Emirates - XRG, the nation's own team, the importance it gained grew even bigger. Adam Yates won the race in 2020, and that gave way to then Pogacar's two consecutive victories ahead of the Briton in 2021 and 2022. Then World Champion Remco Evenepoel soared to victory in 2023; his compatriot Lennert van Eetvelt won in 2024; whilst in 2025 it was World Champion Tadej Pogacar who took a dominant victory, winning both traditional finished into Jebej Jais and Jebel Hafeet.

The race begins with a 144-kilometer stage starting out in Madinat Zayed Majils and the riders will be facing a flat course where the sprinters will have their first opportunity to succeed - the first of many. The first half of the stage features a straight line that is dozens of kilometers long through the desert, where crosswinds can spell chaos.

As usual, the finale of the first day of racing takes place in the Liwa Palace, a short stage that should be fast, featuring an uphill sprint that is often interesting. The final climb is 1.4 kilometers long at 4%, in a straight line, a sprint where the ability to have a strong sustained effort is key.

The second day of racing features the traiditonal Hudaryriryat time trial, 12 kilometers in length and without technical features or climbing of any sort to mention. It will be a day where the overall classification should open up, and create some small gaps ahead of the race's climbing challenges.

The third day of racing is the ultimate novelty in the race. The UAE is not known for having many mountain roads, and the same two climbs have been used on a yearly basis. Jebel Jais has been removed this year, and Jebel Mobrah is the new summit finish.

The stage is, as always, pan-flat with no features until the final ascent. But this one is going to be brutal, and features a profile that is incredibly similar to the famous Alto de l'Angliru. In total, the climb is 13.2 kilometers long at 8.1%, but the first half is not as steep and even features a small descent.

It is the final 6 kilometers, the average is of around 12%, but the gradients do get significantly steeper than that, coming close to 20% at point. It is pure climber territory, where the differences are expected to be substantial and likely GC-deciding.

Stage 4 is another novelty in this year's edition, as the stage is hilly all throughout, a rarity at the UAE Tour where all stages are, in their grand majority, flat as a pancake.

It's not a brutal stage by any means, but the start features a climb of 8 kilometers at 4%, and then there are some small ascents throughout the day. If raced hard, we could see a breakaway attempt to surprise, or some sprinters suffering.

If not, then the small climbs should have no influence on the day, and the riders will be heading towards a regular bunch sprint in Fujairah.

Stage 5 of the race starts in Dubai, heads into the desert and then returns to the city. It's not the first time the finale is hosted in an university, as the stage is pan-flat, meaning a bunch sprint is unavoidable.

The finale has no technical features until the riders reach the 1 kilometer to go sign, where they will then take on two right-hand corners which means that positioning and timing will be quite important in this finale.

Stage 6 is pan-flat, starting off in Al Ain, and will feature the race's most famous climb. Jebel Hafeet is where every previous edition of the race has been decided, and this year it once again takes on a crucial position as the final mountain stage.

168 kilometers in legnth, and the final climb is 10.6 kilometers long at 6.9%. A climb that is not very consistent, unlike what the profile points towards, with a few quite steep sections and also a few flat and even downhill sections in its final half. The exposed and ultra-wide roads often make it harder than what the profile would suggest.

The race will end in Abu Dhabi, with another pan-flat stage which is certain to end in a bunch sprint. It's not a stage where the wind is expected to have a role, instead a calm 149 kilometers on the bike will take the riders towards the final sprint of the race, with another straight line finale in store.

Remco Evenepoel - The Olympic champion is the big favourite to win this race. I reckon the new route suits him less well, because Jebel Mobrah can indeed make massive gaps and that will render the time trial less meaningful. But he will go into that stage ahead of the competition, and on Jebel Hafeet he should also do very good. But we're talking of an Evenepoel in great form, with great climbing legs and a lightweight rider who can take on the steep gradients well. I expect him to climb just as well as any other rider in the field, whilst gaining time in the time trial and being the big danger in case crosswinds happen. His support isn't the best, but there's no stage where he realistically needs a super strong team up the climbs.

Isaac del Toro - The big competitor. In the absence of Jonas Vingegaard, Isaac del Toro feels like the only rider who can put pressure on Evenepoel. How much he does depends on his form. If he doesn't have great form, which is possible due to this being his debut. But I believe he will show himself quite strong and potentially winning stages. The GC is quite possible, don't underestimate him even if Evenepoel shows the same form. Adam Yates and an incredibly strong flat terrain team will keep him protected at all times without a doubt.

We've got a Bahrain - Victorious that shows up very strong with Antonio Tiberi in the lead, but with both Damiano Caruso and Afonso Eulálio backing him up; We've got former race winner Lennert van Eetvelt who looks to make a comeback and is now finally part of the World Tour; We've got Derek Gee who makes his debut for Lidl-Trek and could well be on the final podium if he shows the consistency of the past; Last year's Il Lombardia podium finisher Michael Storer is without a doubt a big threat whilst Felix Gall is a pure climber, set to lose time in the time trial and potentially crosswinds, but to be a very interesting rider in the mountain stages.

The GC battle spreads out amongst other riders such as Ilan van Wilder, Tobias Johannessen, Harold Tejada, Georg Steinhauser, Ben Tulett, William Lecerf Junior, David Gaudu, Pablo Castrillo and Nairo Quintana - all riders who have the quality to fight for a Top10, depending on their form.

Besides the ever-imposing Remco Evenepoel, we can also expect the Britons Joshua Tarling and Ethan Hayter to hit it out in the time trial and try to take the victory over the Olympic champion.

When it comes to the sprinters, illnesses and injuries have certainly reduced the sprinter field significantly with both Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij absent. Jonathan Milan is going to have a clear path to conquering several high level wins, to be challenged by the likes of Juan Sebastián Molano, Sam Welsford and Alberto Dainese.

*** Remco Evenepoel, Isaac del Toro
** Antonio Tiberi, Michael Storer, Felix Gall, Derek Gee
* Afonso Eulálio, Damiano Caruso, Tobias Johannessen, Harold Tejada, Georg Steinhauser, Lennert van Eetvelt, Ben Tulett, Ilan van Wilder, Adam Yates, Pablo Castrillo, Nairo Quintana

Pick: Remco Evenepoel