"Where Tadej is, that's obviously different" but Tim Wellens enjoys racing with his leader Pogacar and away from the spotlight

In UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Tim Wellens has found a perfect position. He no longer has the pressure of being a leader, and ran ride within his own terms, having great legs and taking huge wins; but putting a lot of focus into the team's and Tadej Pogacar's success.

This winter, the Belgian national champion has travelled once again to Benidorm to meet up with the Emirati team. Whilst not everyone was present, he still got to see news faces. And other not-so-new faces. "It's always nice to get together here in December and see everyone again. There are riders here, like Jay Vine, who I've never raced with before," the Belgian jokes in words to Sporza.

Calendar wise, he commented: "There are few surprises. It's more or less the same as this year: the main goals are the Classics and the Tour, to help Tadej." Wellens will race Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne to start off the season, where he can immediately have the chance to take a big win. With UAE, he has won at the Tour de France for the first time and also taken the national title this summer, with wins at the Renewi Tour and Tour de Pologne also in his palmarès.

Following the Opening Weekend he will team up with Pogacar at Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo; followed by the cobbled classics in which he will race a full block. E3 Saxo Classic, Middelkerke Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders and finally Paris-Roubaix.

Before flying to the Costa Blanca, Wellens joined Tadej Pogacar, Nils Politt and Florian Vermeersch to do equipment testing in the cobbled sector of Paris-Roubaix. "That was very instructive," the veteran believes. "We tested different materials to see what's most comfortable. The team then analyzes that data to determine what's most effective."

The 34-year old likes to be away from the spotlight, but does not want that to mean not obtaining results. "That won't be a problem if I have the legs and can get a result. Where Tadej is, that's obviously different. But if I could choose, I'd want him to ride every classic," he admits. "It's much easier to ride for the team than to try to achieve my own results. I'd happily sacrifice myself for him in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix."

As several others say, from top to smaller level riders, Wellens feels quite at home and does not want to move away. "I'm riding for the best team in the world, with the best rider in the world. I could never have believed that as a kid. I feel good here. I couldn't be better off anywhere else than here."

The team scored 97 wins this past season, a new record in the cycling world. "What's the secret of UAE? We're all teammates who push each other to a higher level," he responds. He himself contributed with two of those wins. "Here in training, we ride incredibly hard. That benefits the level."

On Pogacae, Wellens has no doubt that the motivation is still there, and the two will team up once again at the Tour de France this year. "He's still just as motivated, which isn't easy, considering he's already won everything. I personally hope to win at least once again next year, just as I've done every year in recent years."