UAE Team Emirates' injury-hit 2026 season sees 17 broken bones from 16 crashes - "We're all a bit stretched thin"
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider João Almeida might just be on track to returning to his former self after a top notch Vuelta a Espana time trial performance. The Portuguese rider has been severely hit by illness and crashes in 2026, similar to his team's misfortune when it comes to crashes at various points of the season.
The top team in the UCI Rankings, UAE have enjoyed a successful season all considered, but have certainly found themselves under pressure when it comes to injuries and illness throughout the season.
At the Giro d'Italia, they lost several key riders to crashes during the race, their Tour squad was hit with an illness outbreak that could have threatened Tadej Pogacar's yellow jersey. And of course, Pogacar himself saw his season ended by a Vuelta crash in the opening week.
With just four riders remaining, Almeida is one of them as he looks to turn his fortune around. He started the season well with podium finishes in Volta ao Algarve Comunitat Valenciana before illness saw his season severely disrupted. He abandoned Volta a Catalunya and took time off.
Joao Almeida crosses the line on Stage 14
Almeida and UAE's injury-impacted season
His Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes return also ended in an abandon before he finally got on track in August to prepare for his Vuelta participation, only to suffer a Tour de Pologne crash that ended his race, too.
Despite this, he's finally showing glimpses of his old self that saw him claim ten WorldTour victories in 2025. With a third place in a hotly contested time trial on Thursday, he admitted that the team are stretched thin due to injuries and illness at the Vuelta - an overall trend of the Emirati team's season.
“We're all a bit stretched thin, and the heat makes it even harder. It's been a complicated Vuelta with crashes, injuries, illnesses… it's not our best moment, but we always go out there and give it our all. Every single day,” Almeida told AS.
Almeida finding his feet after difficult season
"It was very difficult for me to feel good on the bike again, and I'm still far from my best form. Now, finding my rhythm will be more important than getting results until the end of the season," Almeida added.
UAE confirmed to AS that 17 broken bones were recorded from 16 crashes throughout the season so far as injuries and illnesses mount. In their UAE Next Gen development squad, five riders are currently sidelined with injuries.
Without Pogacar, they approach the end-of-season races with a new focus. Isaac del Toro has been propelled to the status of sole leader in Friday's GP de Quebec and is expected to lead the lines at Sunday's GP de Montreal ahead of the World Championships.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Bruyneel, for all his faults, guided a team to seven straight TdF victories. He's got his bona fides. Criticizing him on his tactical nous or team strategies seems a bit weak. He's entitled to his opinion.Occam12-11-2026
- You don't have to calculate it. Just watch "Anatomy of a G.O.A.T." and you will have all the numbers but... ... if you are Ford and you will calculate numbers of Lamborghini it will not help you. Just saying..averagecyclist12-11-2026
- anybody can calculate the numbers of Tadej , its not secret. We already have the parcour distance elevation data, we have the strava data of a number of riders for reference, we have Pogi's time vs distance. Form there Pogi numbers on every climb can be calculated. Having numbers means nothingabstractengineer12-11-2026
- Again completely stupid. THere is a reason Pogi is Goat, nobody can match his performances, it is physiologically impossible for a rider to equal thru training , nutrition(Pogi has better or equal) and equipment.(Pogi has better or equal) . its mainly genetic.abstractengineer12-11-2026
- Mathieu and Wout!!! You must start in CX this winter! (hope you reading comments here...) ;-)averagecyclist12-11-2026
- Who made you site boss?Lozza12-11-2026
- This shows so well you’ve never ventured out to a cycling event and checked out spectators.Jumpyjohn12-11-2026
- I preferred the one about amateur riders and passing (perhaps to explain why he can’t ride at 220 which would probably be more effective to return to shape).Jumpyjohn12-11-2026
- Not just ManU, far worse in some minority sports ventures.Jumpyjohn12-11-2026
- From your writing it sounds like you’ve been sharing your views with people here for quite a while, quite presumouptuous for a new profile.Jumpyjohn12-11-2026
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