UAE Team Emirates-XRG Return to Home Roads for the 2026 UAE Tour

• Isaac Del Toro leads a strong UAE Team Emirates-XRG line-up on home roads.
• UAE Team Emirates-XRG set sights on UAE Tour title defence to open 2026.

News | Team –12thFebruary 2026

UAE Team Emirates-XRG head into the UAE Tour with the sights firmly set on extending a stellar start to the 2026 season as the peloton returns to the Middle East for the region’s only World Tour race. Rising star Isaac Del Toro will lead an impressive UAE Team Emirates-XRG line-up, as he looks to open his year with a strong showing on home soil and write the next chapter in the team’s rich history at the race.

The UAE Tour has been the stage for some unforgettable moments for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and Del Toro will be hoping to add to that legacy as he makes his debut in the race. The team arrive chasing a fourth overall title in just eight editions of the race, further showcasing their appetite to performance in front of the home fans.

Del Toro enters the 2026 campaign on the back of a breakthrough 2025 season that announced him to the cycling world. His courageous performance at the Giro d’Italia, where he claimed the Maglia Bianca and finished second overall in the General Classification, marked a defining step forward in his career. Now, he will look to draw on the experience gained last year as he targets a compelling performance at the UAE Tour.

Joining Del Toro on the start line in Madinat Zayed is a UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad packed with depth, power, and experience. Fresh from a notable outing at the Tour of Oman, Sebastian Molano will be tasked with contesting the flatter stages. Rune Herregodts, Florian Vermeersch, and Nils Politt form the engine room of the team, playing a crucial role in controlling the peloton, positioning the leaders, and managing the ever-present crosswind threats.

When the race turns uphill, attention will shift to the key mountain finishes. On Stage 3 atop the newly introduced Jebel Mobrah, and the decisive Stage 6 finish on Jebel Hafeet, Kevin Vermaerke and Adam Yates will provide vital support to Del Toro as he targets the defining moments in the battle for the overall title.

“It’s going to be really special to make my debut at the UAE Tour,” said Del Toro. “Last season was incredible for the team, and we want to keep that momentum going into 2026. We have an amazing group of riders here, and I’m looking forward to giving it my all in front of our home fans”.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s mission to secure a fourth UAE Tour title will be tested by a high-quality filed. Belgian superstar Remco Evenepoel arrives aiming to build on his early-season form following a commanding display at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana. He is joined by fellow Belgian Lennert Van Eetvelt of Lotto-Dstny, a former winner of the race who knows exactly what it takes to succeed on UAE roads and remains a rider to watch.

The 2026 edition of the UAE Tour will see the peloton tackle seven stages and more than 1,000KM of racing. The General Classification battle begins early, with Stage 2 featuring a demanding 12.2KM individual time trial at Al Hudayriyat Island, a stage where Evenepoel will be expected to make an immediate impact. Stage 3 introduced a new test with the long, gruelling ascent of Jebel Mobrah, adding another layer of intrigue to the GC fight.

Ultimately, the race is set to be decided on the slopes of Jebel Hafeet. The iconic Stage 6 summit finish has been the scene of countless pivotal moment, including Tadej Pogacar’s show-stopping performance in 2025, and once again it will play a central role in determining the overall winner. The race concludes with a fast-paced finale on the street of Abu Dhabi, where UAE Team Emirates-XRG will be sporting a special edition helmet.

After a record-breaking 2025 season, Del Toro and UAE Team Emirates-XRG arrive at the UAE Tour determined to pick up where they left off. With momentum on their side and ambition running high, the team will look to continue their dominance on the world stage.