UAE Tour 2026 hit by another GC withdrawal as Giulio Ciccone falls ill and Derek Gee steps in for Lidl-Trek
Cycling
The general classification picture at the 2026 UAE Tour has been reshaped again before a single kilometre has been raced.
Giulio Ciccone will not start the race after falling ill, according to reports by Ciro Scognamiglio, becoming the latest high-profile GC contender forced to withdraw in the build-up to the seven-day WorldTour event in the United Arab Emirates.
Ciccone will be replaced by Derek Gee, who is set to make his debut for the team as a result.
Ciccone’s absence adds to a growing list of late changes that have steadily thinned the expected GC field, altering both the sporting balance and several teams’ early-season plans.
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A growing list of late setbacks
Ciccone’s withdrawal follows similar disruptions elsewhere in the peloton. Jonas Vingegaard was ruled out earlier this month after illness delayed his planned start to the season, while Enric Mas was also forced to abandon his UAE Tour plans following injury.
Individually, each absence had a clear explanation. Taken together, they underline how fragile early-season GC line-ups can be, particularly at a race that sits so close to winter training blocks and altitude camps.
For Lidl-Trek, the loss of Ciccone removes a clear reference point for the mountains, and the summit finish at Jebel Hafeet, prompting a swift rethink only days before the race begins.
Derek Gee handed immediate opportunity in new colours
That rethink brings an unexpected spotlight onto Gee, who will line up for his first race of the season and his first appearance in Lidl-Trek colours.
The Canadian joined the team over the winter after establishing himself as a reliable stage-race performer in recent seasons. His inclusion in the UAE Tour was not part of the original plan, but Ciccone’s illness now hands him an immediate WorldTour opportunity at a race that traditionally offers a clear GC hierarchy through the time trial and the mountain finish.
While expectations will naturally be measured given the circumstances of his call-up, Gee’s debut becomes one of the more intriguing subplots of the opening WorldTour stage race of the year. What was meant to be a supporting role elsewhere in the calendar is suddenly replaced by centre-stage exposure in one of the most controlled and GC-focused races on the early-season schedule.
With the UAE Tour already missing several headline names, Ciccone’s withdrawal further underlines how the race is evolving even before it starts, and how quickly opportunity can emerge for riders ready to step into the gap
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- He lives in Monaco
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - It's also highly significant for Lorenzo Finn as he won there last year. Also Mateo Ramírez and Henrique Bravo if they goRafionain-Glas03-11-2026
- This is a phenomenal course design. I do wish that they'd stretch these tours for the women to at least 2 weeks.RidesHills03-11-2026
- This is an amazing route, honestly. Let's hope that it attracts riders to make it a compelling and competitive race. Side bar amusement: going to Slovenia and passing pretty close to Pogačar's house. I wonder if they were tempting him to get all 3 jerseys at once after winning the Tour and Vuelta. After all, only a very few have ever had all three at the same time (Froome being the last).RidesHills03-11-2026
- He was a child two years agoRafionain-Glas03-11-2026
- A great route aswell. Col d'Arpy is a toughieRafionain-Glas03-11-2026
- Let Torito have a shot at itRafionain-Glas03-11-2026
- A great route, much more exciting than the Tour de France. Monte Livata is an interesting one, because they experimented with it at the 2026 Baby Giro, and it was fantastic. 4 km at 10%, then 10 km at 6.5% made for a great spectacle. The stage 16 is horrible. Montaner is also used in the U23s, in Giro del BelvedereRafionain-Glas03-11-2026
- I remember when Mark went through that. He was really experiencing lows and thought about quiting many times. It took him a long time to recover. I, like many others were overjoyed when he came back. I hope Lafay has been tested. I wish him the best.Paggss03-11-2026
- That sucks for him. I've always wondered what guys like him do after retiring from cycling - go back to uni? He's still a very young manCrashjames03-11-2026
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Info @Gazzetta_it - No Uae Tour (16-22 february) due to an illness for Giulio Ciccone @LidlTrek - He will be replaced by Derek Gee (first race of the year for him with the new team)
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