UAE Team Emirates - XRG led by Joao Almeida and Juan Ayuso at Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico
Cycling
With Strade Bianche successfully ticked off, UAE Team
Emirates – XRG now turns its focus to Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, two of
the most prestigious early-season stage races on the calendar. Tadej Pogacar
defended his title in dominant fashion in Tuscany, further solidifying his
early-season form.
Now, as the team moves into the second week of March, the
focus shifts to stage racing, with key riders splitting between the two events.
Paris-Nice kicks off on Sunday, March 9, with UAE Team
Emirates – XRG hoping to reclaim the title last won by Pogacar in 2023. This
year, the team brings a well-rounded squad, with João Almeida, Pavel Sivakov,
and Brandon McNulty providing multiple GC options for the mountain stages,
while Nils Politt and Sebastián Molano will support on flatter terrain.
McNulty, who finished third last season, will look to build on his past
experience, while Almeida arrives in strong form following a solid campaign at
the Volta ao Algarve.
Almeida was optimistic about his chances and the team’s
overall strength heading into the race in a team press release.
“It’s been a good start to the season for me and the team.
We have found the winning way and been fighting for every race as they come.
Here in Paris-Nice, we are going to do our best as a team. I want to be up
there with the best guys and fighting for a good result.
“The shape is good after the Volta ao Algarve. I have been
recovering and doing some training to stay sharp. Now I am feeling good about
this one, and we are going to go for it as a team.”
While the battle unfolds in France, Tirreno-Adriatico gets
underway in Italy on Monday, March 10, running simultaneously until Sunday,
March 16. UAE Team Emirates – XRG fields a formidable lineup, headlined by Juan
Ayuso and Adam Yates, as both riders fine-tune their form ahead of the Giro
d’Italia.
The Spanish-British duo presents a strong GC challenge, supported by
the likes of Rafał Majka, Felix Großschartner, and young Mexican sensation
Isaac del Toro.
Ayuso has made no secret of his ambitions for
Tirreno-Adriatico, marking it as a key early-season objective.
“Since the start of the year, I’ve said that Tirreno will be
one of my main early season goals, so I am really excited and motivated for it.
This year has started really well for the team so far, and personally, I’m
really satisfied to be able to contribute to that with my wins. There’s a
winning mentality in the team right now that I think motivates everybody a bit
extra.
“For Tirreno, we have a very strong team and between myself
and Adam [Yates], I think we are in with a good shout for GC. It’s a race I
like a lot, and I always love competing in Italy, so I’m looking forward to
what will hopefully be a great week of racing.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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Front24209-11-2026 - Eccelente! That's 7 riders in total in Red Bull who come from the devo team, 8 if you include Lipo
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