UAE Team Emirates will chase the yellow jersey this upcoming July and they will have with them all the firepower they can manage together. In fact, the team will have four yellow jersey contenders including Tadej Pogacar.
The Slovenian will race both Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, this has been confirmed this afternoon by Joxean Matxín in a press conference in Spain. The Slovenian will race both however will be the sole leader in Italy. Adam Yates was thought to be the card to play at the Corsa Rosa but he will instead focus fully on the Tour de France - where he was third this summer - but the team will take more than two cards this time around.
Instead, four different contenders for a strong GC result. Juan Ayuso and João Almeida will both prepare for the Grand Boucle as their main goal of the season. This will be the debut of both riders who have over the past two seasons focused on the Vuelta a España and Giro d'Italia as priorities respectively. Both had previously discussed how 2024 would likely see their debut in France, they will team up but will link up with the other main climbing block of the team.
Hence four names are already clear for the Emirati team for this month of July. An approach that is perhaps unique in modern cycling as none will likely start with a supporting role, unless the form is not there. They will have to battle Jumbo-Visma (who should not have Wout van Aert, and can no longer use the Primoz Roglic card) and seem to be gearing up towards all scenarios.
Het Laatste Nieuws reports that the team may have already thought of the complete lineup for the French race and this would include the support of Pavel Sivakov and Marc Soler in the mountains, whilst Tim Wellens and Nils Politt would act as road captains in the flat and hilly stages.
The provisional @TeamEmiratesUAE squad selection: Giro d'Italia: 🇸🇮 Tadej Pogacar 🇦🇺 Jay Vine 🇵🇱 Rafal Majka 🇦🇹 Felix Grosschartner 🇵🇹 Rui Oliveira 🇨🇴 Sebastian Molano 🇩🇰 Mikkel Bjerg 🇸🇮 Domen Novak Tour de France: 🇸🇮 Tadej Pogacar 🇪🇸 Juan Ayuso 🇬🇧 Adam Yates 🇵🇹 Joao Almeida
