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"What Visma has achieved" - Matxin admits UAE is now going after rival team's historical record

Cycling
Joxean Matxin Tadej Pogacar
UAE Team Emirates - XRG have achieved a lot, and have been at the top of the UCI rankings for years now. Yet despite this, they have not yet achieved something Team Visma | Lease a Bike have, which is now a dream: Win all three Grand Tours in a year.
However, the Emirati team, spearheaded by Tadej Pogacar, remains the staple of professional cycling at the time being. Yet again, in 2026, they have topped the individual and team UCI rankings.
“Ultimately, you end up in the position that many teams and cyclists would love to be in. It’s a privileged and coveted position, and I understand why they’re trying to strengthen their teams and surpass us,” Matxin shared with Eurosport Spain.
Visma used to be their main rival; but over the past few years, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and Lidl-Trek have both grown substantially in budget and quality, making it a wide array of squads pursuing UAE's position.
UAE has the largest budget in the World Tour, not only used to maintain Pogacar, but to hold multiple riders that would otherwise be leaders in different teams.
Tadej Pogacar and Tom Pidcock embrace after crossing the line at Milano-Sanremo 2026
Tadej Pogacar won this year's Milano-Sanremo

Giro-Tour-Vuelta streak is a big goal for UAE

The schedules for 2027 will be decided only next month at the team's training camp, with the media day set to take place on the 18th of December. On that day, the riders will share their thoughts on the upcoming season.
With Pogacar aiming for the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, it will likely mean the Emirati team will be the one to beat in both races.
The Giro d'Italia has been presented this week with a climber-friendly route, featuring seven summit finishes. Isaac del Toro and João Almeida will give the team further firepower for the key races, and will help the team in pursuing a goal that Matxin personally has.
"What am I longing for right now? I won't lie, what Visma has achieved: winning the Giro, the Tour, and the Vuelta in the same year".
The Dutch team achieved this in 2023 with Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss; and UAE is now looking to be the second team to conquer all three Grand Tours in one year.
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