Tim Wellens, Nils Politt, Marc Hirschi & Antonio Morgado spearhead multi-faceted UAE Team Emirates at Tour of Flanders in Tadej Pogacar's absence

With Tadej Pogacar set to enjoy a spell at altitude ahead of the Giro d'Italia, UAE Team Emirates will have to adopt a different tactic in their plan for victory at the Tour of Flanders.

Operating without any clear favourite for the race, UAE Team Emirates instead have opted for a multi-faceted team full of strength and differing options. According to the team's official announcement for the lineup, "The experienced duo of Tim Wellens and Nils Politt will spearhead a strong team who will go in search of defending the crown won by Tadej Pogacar in 2023."

"We’re in good spirits and very motivated coming into Flanders this year. These classics have been a big goal of mine for the first part of the season and we want to do as well as possible," previews Wellens. "It’s been a good classics period for us so far and we have been present in many finales, though we would like to be closer to the podium as always. Our team is strong with a good atmosphere and attitude to give our best on Sunday.”

Aside from the aforementioned duo of Wellens and Politt, the impressive Portuguese prodigy, Antonio Morgado and the one-day specialist, Marc Hirschi also offer intriguing options for the team with Mikkel Bjerg, Alessandro Covi and Vegard Stake Laengen complete the lineup. 

Tim Wellens, Nils Politt, Antonio Morgado, Marc Hirschi, Mikkel Bjerg, Alessandro Covi and Vegard Stake Laengen.