UAE-Team Emirates thread

[scribers]

Soler once again on the break and attacking from it.

The wins by team record per season is in reach. And credibly interesting.

 

[Cycling111]

Maybe they should try to go for that Vuelta win now. Or do they want to win 14 stages instead?

I think you and I are the only ones who still see the Jumbo´s 3 GTs in 2023 as far superior to winning 100 victories
And of course, Jumbo´s 2023 Vuelta is superior to winning every stage.

If the team had helped Almeida the day Vingegaard won, Almeida would be 15-20 seconds behind Vingegaard today and perhaps take the lead in the time trial.

It would be curious if Almeida didn't win the Vuelta because of the seconds he had lost that day, and UAE celebrating 10 or 12 stages. LOL

 

[Offline]

no more breakaway for Ayuso, Soler and Vine… Almeida can win this race

Apparently UAE just don’t believe in Almeida or they just care more about winning stages. Either way I don’t like it

 

[Cycling111]

OMG.

'It was odd because UAE riders were chasing each other' - Evenepoel questions UAE Tactics​

'It was odd because UAE riders were chasing each other' - Evenepoel questions UAE Tactics

Remco Evenepoel finished a disappointing 19th in stage four of the 2025 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain on Friday after a mechanical issue derailed his effort…

www.domestiquecycling.com

Sometimes I think there are few internal problems in UAE, or we don't even see half of them. If they continue signing the best of each generation and the best riders of other teams, they'll end up fighting each other

 

[scribers]

No doubt about that. Very weird.

 

[Cycling111]

No doubt about that. Very weird.

But the only one they've publicly reprimanded is Jan Christen. And they've left him out of the Vuelta.

If they don't want these problems, they should sign domestiques. They have enough leaders. Sign domestiques, even if you don't win 100 racesIn fact, they'd be more likely to win more GTs by winning 50 races, as Visma did.
I don't think they can maintain this situation forever, and when they don't win 100 races, everything will be a problem.

 

[HashRouge]

But the only one they've publicly reprimanded is Jan Christen. And they've left him out of the Vuelta.

If they don't want these problems, they should sign domestiques. They have enough leaders. Sign domestiques, even if you don't win 100 racesIn fact, they'd be more likely to win more GTs by winning 50 races, as Visma did.
I don't think they can maintain this situation forever, and when they don't win 100 races, everything will be a problem.

I completely agree with this. I know people will say that they win a lot for Clinic reasons, which may or may not be true. But the biggest issue is that they have the money to sign the most promising young riders, and these promising young riders are ambitious. They aren't all going to be happy slotting into domestique roles, or only taking leadership at minor races. You can't sign riders with the talent of Juan Ayuso, Isaac del Toro, Jan Christen etc etc and expect them to be happy with only minimal chances to lead the biggest races. I wish the UCI would have a bit more oversight of rider contracts. Perhaps a ban on anything over 3 years for a rider under 25?

 

[Bkinn]

UAE domination is going to be a problem for the sport. Without wins smaller teams are goint to have more problem getting sponsors and likewise others riders can't demand bigger contracts.

 

[scribers]

All in the uae clown car. I’m driving

 

[Pantani_lives]

And with Del Toro winning the Coppa Sabatini they have now equaled the 2008 record of Columbia-High Road with 83 professional wins in one season.

 

[SafeBet]

Wasn't the record 85?

 

[scribers]

Bruyneel heard through the grape vine UAE is actually targeting 100 wins this season

 

[Cycling111]

They can win 200 races, but if Visma wins more GTs than them again, it's a defeat, especially since they could have avoided it this year.

The seconds Almeida lost the day Vingegaard won because Soler and Ayuso decided to rest for the stages could be decisive in not winning the Vuelta.

I wonder if those who defended them that day will continue to defend them today. Stages can never be prioritized over a leader general classification.

They lost the Giro, largely for the same reason. The day Simon Yates suffered the most, Del Toro wasn't allowed to ride with Carapaz and Bernal for Ayuso. Days later, Ayuso confessed that he was feeling bad and knew he wouldn't win the Giro.
And there were teammates like McNulty who were selfish. The final straw was congratulating himself in Instagram for a top-10 while his teammate lost the Giro, with him saving energy to climb at his pace..

I feel sorry for Almeida, but UAE truly deserves to lose the Vuelta due to extreme selfishness.

 

[Red Rick]

All in the uae clown car. I’m driving

 

[Oldman]

I completely agree with this. I know people will say that they win a lot for Clinic reasons, which may or may not be true. But the biggest issue is that they have the money to sign the most promising young riders, and these promising young riders are ambitious. They aren't all going to be happy slotting into domestique roles, or only taking leadership at minor races. You can't sign riders with the talent of Juan Ayuso, Isaac del Toro, Jan Christen etc etc and expect them to be happy with only minimal chances to lead the biggest races. I wish the UCI would have a bit more oversight of rider contracts. Perhaps a ban on anything over 3 years for a rider under 25?

UAE seems to only settle the leadership question when Pogacar is in the room. The rest is looking like a cage fight; particularly among the youngest guys still charging for the result that really pays off.
If they actually do a plan for Almeida on Stage 20 we can all be surprised?

 

[Monsi]

They can win 200 races, but if Visma wins more GTs than them again, it's a defeat, especially since they could have avoided it this year.

Not the point but you can argue that the Tour victory > Giro and Vuelta (potentially) victory combined. The Tour is the biggest race and both teams' biggest target for the whole season.

Of course, in a more perfect world, there was a realistic scenario where UAE could've gotten all three with three different riders this year.

 

[Unchained]

They can win 200 races, but if Visma wins more GTs than them again, it's a defeat, especially since they could have avoided it this year.

The seconds Almeida lost the day Vingegaard won because Soler and Ayuso decided to rest for the stages could be decisive in not winning the Vuelta.

I wonder if those who defended them that day will continue to defend them today. Stages can never be prioritized over a leader general classification.

They lost the Giro, largely for the same reason. The day Simon Yates suffered the most, Del Toro wasn't allowed to ride with Carapaz and Bernal for Ayuso. Days later, Ayuso confessed that he was feeling bad and knew he wouldn't win the Giro.
And there were teammates like McNulty who were selfish. The final straw was congratulating himself in Instagram for a top-10 while his teammate lost the Giro, with him saving energy to climb at his pace..

I feel sorry for Almeida, but UAE truly deserves to lose the Vuelta due to extreme selfishness.

I disagree with most of this. Del Toro lost the Giro for a variety of reasons, number one is lack of experience, number two he followed instructions from team director instead of racing on instinct. Del Toro wins and loses from racing using aggressive tactics, when he did something scientific like betting that the race was more important to Richard Carapaz , Del Toro was punished for over thinking it.
UAE can get in the bus and abandon the Vuelta today, skip the remaining stages and the team would still have had an outstanding race, all the stage wins constantly in the camera view because someone in a UAE jersey is doing something good.
McNulty and Del Toro are good friends and McNulty posting anything was not seen by Del Toro as a selfish act, Del Toro doesn't feel anything negative about losing the Giro, he lived a dream for multiple days, got exactly the emotional boost he needed, when he raced as a leader instead of a worker, it gave him confidence that just keeps building, as he is steadily improving and winning.
Everything associated with UAE is success..
Even during this ugly divorce with Juan Ayuso something good came of it with a distracted, distressed Ayuso finding a way to win.
UAE by every metric is how bike racing should be done.

 

[Cycling111]

Not the point but you can argue that the Tour victory > Giro and Vuelta (potentially) victory combined. The Tour is the biggest race and both teams' biggest target for the whole season.

Of course, in a more perfect world, there was a realistic scenario where UAE could've gotten all three with three different riders this year.

Thanks to having Pogacar, they still haven't won GTs without of him. It's a team that suffers from these selfish issues because they signed them to be leaders. Leaders who were supposed to win GTs, like Roglic, or even like Kuss and Simon Yates have achieved. Not to win stages in allowed breakaways.

 

[Unchained]

UAE seems to only settle the leadership question when Pogacar is in the room. The rest is looking like a cage fight; particularly among the youngest guys still charging for the result that really pays off.
If they actually do a plan for Almeida on Stage 20 we can all be surprised?

How can anyone say this while looking at the record? UAE has stage race wins or podiums all year with multiple riders other than Tadej Pogacar..it's as if projecting is a thing.. if UAE is cage fighting who with? Most of what has recently happened is just made up. Look at Juan Ayuso in divided time periods. Beginning of the season went perfectly. His prep for Giro was outstanding, his train fell off the tracks, he was beat up and bee stung..and he has been an emotional basket case since. Ayuso whining and crying about the sudden emergence of Isaac Del Toro, the accidental leader and underdog hero, second year guy getting all the attention and softly snuggled into a leadership role at UAE. Look at the schedule and race records. Plenty of non Pogacar results all over.. Guys winning one day and stage races..the only " crowding " is TDF other than that Giro and Vuelta are both going great. It's as if fans are projecting that UAE expects to win every race, every time or it's a failure, it's A disappointment.. Just not the case, UAE with multiple solid performances even without victory. Outstanding racing all around.. Almeida, Ayuso, McNulty, Del Toro all with stage race results with Pogacar's blessing.

 

[James M]

They can win 200 races, but if Visma wins more GTs than them again, it's a defeat, especially since they could have avoided it this year.

The seconds Almeida lost the day Vingegaard won because Soler and Ayuso decided to rest for the stages could be decisive in not winning the Vuelta.

I wonder if those who defended them that day will continue to defend them today. Stages can never be prioritized over a leader general classification.

They lost the Giro, largely for the same reason. The day Simon Yates suffered the most, Del Toro wasn't allowed to ride with Carapaz and Bernal for Ayuso. Days later, Ayuso confessed that he was feeling bad and knew he wouldn't win the Giro.
And there were teammates like McNulty who were selfish. The final straw was congratulating himself in Instagram for a top-10 while his teammate lost the Giro, with him saving energy to climb at his pace..

I feel sorry for Almeida, but UAE truly deserves to lose the Vuelta due to extreme selfishness.

On this particular topic I find you hillarious. Do you think if someone wins it equal the best team, meaning UAE was the best team in 2020 when Pog won since they won the Tour? When they was non excisting infact.. I find it very very hard to even take serious that kind of logic the rider winning automatically means best team in any shape or form.

You look at it somewhat backwards, Visma has most of their a team here with Jonas their best rider and UAE completely made a fool of them this Vuelta breaking all kind of records.I would agree with your point to the extent your saying it if they had the best GT rider here like the Tour but they won that easypeasy, Almeida hasnt dropped Jonas once and going in thinking Almeida is close to Jonas is one thing a whole other to think he can beat him and sacrifise everything for it is gambling to a a new level surely to some level you gotte agree surely that make no sense to that degree from a objective standpoint?

Let Visma wins the small GT's. They just won 2 Tour with Jonas nothing like Sky.(one cause Pog was injured and Yates this Giro arguably too) just like the small classics since their never touching the monuments either, let em win the smaller races so people like you think its still 22/23 even tho that couldnt be further from the truth

I disagree with most of this. Del Toro lost the Giro for a variety of reasons, number one is lack of experience, number two he followed instructions from team director instead of racing on instinct. Del Toro wins and loses from racing using aggressive tactics, when he did something scientific like betting that the race was more important to Richard Carapaz , Del Toro was punished for over thinking it.
UAE can get in the bus and abandon the Vuelta today, skip the remaining stages and the team would still have had an outstanding race, all the stage wins constantly in the camera view because someone in a UAE jersey is doing something good.
McNulty and Del Toro are good friends and McNulty posting anything was not seen by Del Toro as a selfish act, Del Toro doesn't feel anything negative about losing the Giro, he lived a dream for multiple days, got exactly the emotional boost he needed, when he raced as a leader instead of a worker, it gave him confidence that just keeps building, as he is steadily improving and winning.
Everything associated with UAE is success..
Even during this ugly divorce with Juan Ayuso something good came of it with a distracted, distressed Ayuso finding a way to win.
UAE by every metric is how bike racing should be done.

Preach but to much logic for emotional people whos consistently proven wrong tho. Visma their best rider here and most of their A guys and UAE completely made a fool of them and everyone else and broken all kind of records, its sad indeed but nevertheless the case.

Teams race to win, and people ready to drop everything to jump on Almeida beating Jonas is not rational its a risk/reward which makes zero sense, and hes had help (could argue yes he could have better ofcourse) but UAE massive winner of this Vuelta anyone saying something else is literally impossible to take serious. Basically saying Almeida is a sure bet vs Jonas which should say itself make no sense when he hasnt dropped him once. ANd I for one think their closer than many think ive said that all year but thats not to say I would bet the house to this extent on him beating him, no chance in hell thats rational.

But were arguing vs a guy who think anyone winning a race equal the best team which by that logic by him UAE had the best team in the Tour 2020 cause pogacar won haha, even though the team was non excisting, I just cant make sense how that logic adds up in any shape or form.

Nvm fast forward to today, broken all records to the point its annoying here how much they dominate when their best rider isnt even here vs other top teams best riders, its getting comical if anything.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Wasn't the record 85?

Right. Columbia-HTC had 83 in 2008, and 85 in 2009. I was checking the wrong year. The weird thing is that I don't remember that team as being that dominant, but they had three sprinters who won lots of races: Cavendish, Greipel and Boasson Hagen.

So UAE needs two more wins to tie the record.

 

[Red Rick]

Right. Columbia HTC had 83 in 2008 , and 85 in 2009. I was checking the wrong year. The weird thing is that I don't remember that team as being that dominant, but they had three sprinters who won lots of races: Cavendish, Greipel and Boasson Hagen.

So UAE needs two more to tie the record.

Columbia just won so many sprint stages, even in smaller stage races and stuff like California, Tour of Missouri and that stuff. You knew it was there, you knew the win count was ridiculous, but because it was so heavily weighted to sprint stages it was never near as suffocating as UAE is now, as they basically don't win bunch sprints at all

 

[James M]

Columbia just won so many sprint stages, even in smaller stage races and stuff like California, Tour of Missouri and that stuff. You knew it was there, you knew the win count was ridiculous, but because it was so heavily weighted to sprint stages it was never near as suffocating as UAE is now, as they basically don't win bunch sprints at all

Monuments, GTs(especially the Tour, which matters more than the rest combined) HTC was never even close to this level of suffocation in the big scheme, mostly sprint stages yes. Honestly, I find it comical. And even worse, the fact that its back-to-back, takes it to a whole other level of dominance aswell. Its absurd. Back to back 80-90wins..and biggest ones, whole other level of suffocation than weve seen, it just is.

I like to say teams need to step up, but with how UAE is constructed I dont see it happen super soon. Still, one can hope for more competition. With more money now into some new teams (because for UAE, it's all about moneyand money ultimately dictates who gets who, its all about money), maybe the playing field can even out a bit. Right now, it's borderline comical theres nothing else to say, this Vuelta highlights it even more, their mocking everyone and their best rider(s) isnt even here.

 

[Unchained]

Monuments, GTs(especially the Tour, which matters more than the rest combined) HTC was never even close to this level of suffocation in the big scheme, mostly sprint stages yes. Honestly, I find it comical. And even worse, the fact that its back-to-back, takes it to a whole other level of dominance aswell. Its absurd. Back to back 80-90wins..and biggest ones, whole other level of suffocation than weve seen, it just is.

I like to say teams need to step up, but with how UAE is constructed I dont see it happen super soon. Still, one can hope for more competition. With more money now into some new teams (because for UAE, it's all about moneyand money ultimately dictates who gets who, its all about money), maybe the playing field can even out a bit. Right now, it's borderline comical theres nothing else to say, this Vuelta highlights it even more, their mocking everyone and their best rider(s) isnt even here.

Much of your statement is correct, my only issue with most of the anti UAE posts leave out the UCI and the free market. If someone, a company wants to fund a team with @$70-100 million there are no restrictions. And might is right prevailing attitude in pro racing. Contracts mean nothing and if you can make a financial argument your will can be carried out. So currently UAE has most estimated funding but anyone who wants to can go bigger. And the idea of current Pogacar being beamed down from space is also ridiculous and strange. UAE signed him years ago and he wasn't on fire immediately. Continues to improve. I will let someone else who knows do the salary calculations for Isaac Del Toro but I can tell you he won again.. And the salary to win ratio makes the kid a bargain. Yes UAE has some high earners but they are also getting some real return on investment riders involved. Sometimes you get way way more than you paid for.. Rare but it does happen.

 

[Oldman]

How can anyone say this while looking at the record? UAE has stage race wins or podiums all year with multiple riders other than Tadej Pogacar..it's as if projecting is a thing.. if UAE is cage fighting who with? Most of what has recently happened is just made up. Look at Juan Ayuso in divided time periods. Beginning of the season went perfectly. His prep for Giro was outstanding, his train fell off the tracks, he was beat up and bee stung..and he has been an emotional basket case since. Ayuso whining and crying about the sudden emergence of Isaac Del Toro, the accidental leader and underdog hero, second year guy getting all the attention and softly snuggled into a leadership role at UAE. Look at the schedule and race records. Plenty of non Pogacar results all over.. Guys winning one day and stage races..the only " crowding " is TDF other than that Giro and Vuelta are both going great. It's as if fans are projecting that UAE expects to win every race, every time or it's a failure, it's A disappointment.. Just not the case, UAE with multiple solid performances even without victory. Outstanding racing all around.. Almeida, Ayuso, McNulty, Del Toro all with stage race results with Pogacar's blessing.

When he's concerned about the race...I may have missed any outright declarative support for Almeida and I'm sure if he did Ayuso would've attempted to appear like he was riding for the team welfare. The optics are bad to the degree that JV is happy when he heads up the road because the know he has no intentions of helping Almeida. Pogacar is no idiot and he would be happy to have a fellow UAE rider win a stage if it supports the GC strategy.
There may be more than meets the eye but the impression is chaos. One more stage to prove the point of harmonious victory.