"The legs are there, and the motivation is high" - Tadej Pogacar excited for return to racing as UAE confirm Dauphine support squad

After a short break following what was a stunning Spring Classics season in 2025, Tadej Pogacar returns to racing this weekend, looking to build form for the Tour de France and send an early message to his Maillot Jaune rivals at the Criterium du Dauphine.

“We’ve just come off a really solid block of altitude training with the team and I’m feeling good," previews the Slovenian world champion in a pre-race press release posted to the official website of the UAE Team Emirates - XRG team. "The legs are there, and the motivation is high."

Only once in his illustrious career has Pogacar used the Dauphine as a building block for the Tour de France. Back in 2020, the UAE leader finished 4th overall as Daniel Martinez took the win. Famously though, that didn't hinder his Tour de France ambitions as the Slovenian secured his first Grand Tour win later that summer in one of the most iconic moments of modern cycling, dramatically overturning his deficit to compatriot Primoz Roglic in the final time trial.

"It’s been a few years since I’ve been to the Dauphiné and we’re excited to be there and racing again after many weeks of training all together," Pogacar continues his pre-race preview. "We have a very good ambience in the group, and we’re ready to pin on race numbers and show what we can do.”

Joining Pogacar as part of the UAE Team Emirates - XRG lineup in France are a strong support squad of Jhonatan Narváez, Domen Novak, Nils Politt, Pavel Sivakov, Marc Soler and Tim Wellens, offering Pogacar plenty of accomplished help in his quest to add another victory to his palmares. 

Tadej Pogacar
Marc Soler
Pavel Sivakov
Nils Politt
Jhonatan Narvaez
Tim Wellens
Domen Novak