UAE-Team Emirates thread

[yaco]

I don't understand why UAE can't attract a leading sprinter. They'll get a good wage, team support, a good calendar and a winning culture.

 

[Netserk]

I don't understand why UAE can't attract a leading sprinter. They'll get a good wage, team support, a good calendar and a winning culture.

Few sprinters can win GT stages without a lead-out and be content with not riding the Tour.

 

[yaco]

Few sprinters can win GT stages without a lead-out and be content with not riding the Tour.

You can still do two or three years developing your craft and ride the Giro or Vuelta. UAE did take Molano to the 2024 Giro.

 

[Netserk]

You can still do two or three years developing your craft and ride the Giro or Vuelta. UAE did take Molano to the 2024 Giro.

In this transfer season and the previous one, who were the sprinters who'd be a clear improvement for UAE and worth taking to both the Giro and the Vuelta and also a good match for the sprinter?

Is Girmay worth the money and the opportunity cost for UAE?

 

[hayneplane]

Few sprinters can win GT stages without a lead-out and be content with not riding the Tour.

They could easily get one on the up and then let them go when they are Tour or leave stage. Rinse and repeat similar to what Visma have done with Kooij.

 

[Netserk]

They could easily get one on the up and then let them go when they are Tour or leave stage. Rinse and repeat similar to what Visma have done with Kooij.

Easily? Who was the most recent one to fit that bill?

I do not think they would have been able to correctly identify the potential and secure the signature of Magnier and Brennan.

 

[Cycling111]

Schwarzbacher coming from Gen Z I think. After that they have 2 spots left.
I think those 2 might be clear helpers. I think they missing a Majka type...

I thought he would move up to the UAE first team, but he has signed for EF.

 

[Offline]

I thought he would move up to the UAE first team, but he has signed for EF.

I think it’s a matter of him picking EF over UAE.
I’m sure UAE wanted him. But I guess he wanted a team where he could ride for himself.
Great rider, but not a huge loss for UAE.

 

[Peyroteo94]

UAE is missing one rider. They clearly miss a climber to replace Majka and Ayuso.
Richard Carapaz is on the market eheheh.
Seriously, I think they should just pick a young rider from their development team and go hard to bring riders like Hindley, Buitrago, Gall, THJ. These guys are not good enough to be top3 in a GT anymore (except Hindley). Hindley will lose relevance next year due to Remco's arrival.

 

[Cookster15]

UAE is missing one rider. They clearly miss a climber to replace Majka and Ayuso.
Richard Carapaz is on the market eheheh.
Seriously, I think they should just pick a young rider from their development team and go hard to bring riders like Hindley, Buitrago, Gall, THJ. These guys are not good enough to be top3 in a GT anymore (except Hindley). Hindley will lose relevance next year due to Remco's arrival.

My sad emoji was because yet again Hindley plays 2nd fiddle to an arrival to that team (RBH). But agree UAE does seem a good fit for Hindley - yes would help fill the gap left by loss of Majka and particularly Ayuso.

 

[Wyndbrook]

UAE is missing one rider. They clearly miss a climber to replace Majka and Ayuso.
Richard Carapaz is on the market eheheh.
Seriously, I think they should just pick a young rider from their development team and go hard to bring riders like Hindley, Buitrago, Gall, THJ. These guys are not good enough to be top3 in a GT anymore (except Hindley). Hindley will lose relevance next year due to Remco's arrival.

For criks sake don't suggest them signing more, taking a few away would be a much better idea to even things up a bit.

 

[hayneplane]

My sad emoji was because yet again Hindley plays 2nd fiddle to an arrival to that team (RBH). But agree UAE does seem a good fit for Hindley - yes would help fill the gap left by loss of Majka and particularly Ayuso.

Hindley to Ineos would also make a lot of sense for all parties.

 

[Earns1985]

So schedule time begins.
What do you think will be their approach for next season?
Pogacar, del Toro and Almeida are basically the ones, who can in my eyes demand leadership roles for next season. A.Yates has his best time behind him.
If we assume, that Pogacar will again focus on one-Day races and the tour. Then giro and vuelta would be free for del Toro and Almeida.
Most likely scenario is del Toro again targeting the giro in my eyes. Than the question would be, what Almeida´s schedule will look like?
Will it be basically the same like this year? So leadership in a lot of one-week races, than helper for the tour and vuelta leadership? Or do you think, that UAE will go with del Toro and Almeida to the giro. Would be great, if Vingegaard or Evenepoel would also show up..

 

[vappaxbipmv]

So schedule time begins.
What do you think will be their approach for next season?
Pogacar, del Toro and Almeida are basically the ones, who can in my eyes demand leadership roles for next season. A.Yates has his best time behind him.
If we assume, that Pogacar will again focus on one-Day races and the tour. Then giro and vuelta would be free for del Toro and Almeida.
Most likely scenario is del Toro again targeting the giro in my eyes. Than the question would be, what Almeida´s schedule will look like?
Will it be basically the same like this year? So leadership in a lot of one-week races, than helper for the tour and vuelta leadership? Or do you think, that UAE will go with del Toro and Almeida to the giro. Would be great, if Vingegaard or Evenepoel would also show up..

I can't see both Almeida and Del Toro in the Giro. If we are working under the assumption that Pogacar will do only the Tour, I don't see how one of those two isn't his domestique there. Which means that if both do the Giro, and Del Toro will probably skip the Vuelta to prepare well for the WC (and to not do 2 GTs because of his age and inexperience, UAE doesn't like sending young riders to 2 GTs), either he has to do 2 conservative GTs, which is very unlikely, or Almeida has to do them but that leaves no GC for the Vuelta. I find it most likely that they will do basically the same schedules as this year. In my mind Almeida to the Vuelta is also pretty much a done deal, the only question is then if Del Toro Giro and Almeida Tour dom or vice versa

 

[Monsi]

So schedule time begins.
What do you think will be their approach for next season?
Pogacar, del Toro and Almeida are basically the ones, who can in my eyes demand leadership roles for next season. A.Yates has his best time behind him.
If we assume, that Pogacar will again focus on one-Day races and the tour. Then giro and vuelta would be free for del Toro and Almeida.
Most likely scenario is del Toro again targeting the giro in my eyes. Than the question would be, what Almeida´s schedule will look like?
Will it be basically the same like this year? So leadership in a lot of one-week races, than helper for the tour and vuelta leadership? Or do you think, that UAE will go with del Toro and Almeida to the giro. Would be great, if Vingegaard or Evenepoel would also show up..

I assume Pogi pretty much sticks to the same schedule as this year. Likely without UAE Tour and Amstel and then maybe replace Dauphine with Suisse, depending on what he wants.

I honestly don't know where Almeida or Del Toro goes. If UAE wants a leader at all three Grand Tours, then the ideal thing to do is send Del Toro to the Giro as leader then Almeida does the Tour-Vuelta again. But they can also have Almeida ride Giro-Tour then Del Toro rides Vuelta. Depends on what they want to ride. It might be the former (Del Toro Giro, Almeida Tour-Vuelta) because Del Toro will probably want to contend for the Worlds as well. If Jonas will ride the Giro, I think Almeida goes Giro-Tour.

 

[YavorD]

I assume Pogi pretty much sticks to the same schedule as this year. Likely without UAE Tour and Amstel and then maybe replace Dauphine with Suisse, depending on what he wants.

I honestly don't know where Almeida or Del Toro goes. If UAE wants a leader at all three Grand Tours, then the ideal thing to do is send Del Toro to the Giro as leader then Almeida does the Tour-Vuelta again. But they can also have Almeida ride Giro-Tour then Del Toro rides Vuelta. Depends on what they want to ride. It might be the former (Del Toro Giro, Almeida Tour-Vuelta) because Del Toro will probably want to contend for the Worlds as well. If Jonas will ride the Giro, I think Almeida goes Giro-Tour.

I don't think the Vuelta is a bad build up for the WC. Okay, maybe going for GC is a bit much, but we've seen plenty of people carrying the good form from the Vuelta to the autumn races afterwards. Evenepoel literally won the WC after winning the Vuelta at the same age as Del Toro is
Ultimately, I don't think it's unreasonable to think that Del Toro can do 2 GT's. UAE have done it with Almeida and Ayuso while 22-23 (okay, Almeida just turned 24 for the Vuelta).

At the end, I think it's up to what Almeida wants. The Giro route seems great for him, but the Vuelta may be his biggest chance to win a GT (assuming Vingegaard does the Giro).

 

[Monsi]

I don't think the Vuelta is a bad build up for the WC. Okay, maybe going for GC is a bit much, but we've seen plenty of people carrying the good form from the Vuelta to the autumn races afterwards. Evenepoel literally won the WC after winning the Vuelta at the same age as Del Toro is
Ultimately, I don't think it's unreasonable to think that Del Toro can do 2 GT's. UAE have done it with Almeida and Ayuso while 22-23 (okay, Almeida just turned 24 for the Vuelta).

At the end, I think it's up to what Almeida wants. The Giro route seems great for him, but the Vuelta may be his biggest chance to win a GT (assuming Vingegaard does the Giro).

I also don't actually think that Vuelta is a bad build up for Worlds but I'm guessing maybe Del Toro just wants to get the GT racing out of the way in May before switching to "one day racing mode" and fully focusing on Worlds.

Definitely agree with the last sentence. With Pogacar and Evenepoel focusing on Worlds after the Tour and Vingegaard possibly targeting a Giro-Tour double, the Vuelta is potentially a golden opportunity for Almeida to finally go for a GT victory.

 

[YavorD]

I also don't actually think that Vuelta is a bad build up for Worlds but I'm guessing maybe Del Toro just wants to get the GT racing out of the way in May before switching to "one day racing mode" and fully focusing on Worlds.

Definitely agree with the last sentence. With Pogacar and Evenepoel focusing on Worlds after the Tour and Vingegaard possibly targeting a Giro-Tour double, the Vuelta is potentially a golden opportunity for Almeida to finally go for a GT victory.

If Almeida wants to race the Vuelta, I wouldn't exclude a chance that Del Toro does the Guro for GC and la Vuelta in Vine's role - stage hunter/helper. Which should be an ideal build up for the worlds IMO.

 

[hayneplane]

I feel like things could fall into place for there to be a really random winner of the Vuelta in 2026.

Jonas Giro-Tour, Tadej and Remco classics-Tour-classics+WC

More top riders than usual to do Canada world tour races as WC prep as same country and similar parcours could leave the field wide open in Spain.

My wildcard pick would be Jay Vine finally managing to stay upright long enough to have a tilt at GC and give the first shock winner since Sepp Kuss

 

[Squire]

I feel like things could fall into place for there to be a really random winner of the Vuelta in 2026.

Jonas Giro-Tour, Tadej and Remco classics-Tour-classics+WC

More top riders than usual to do Canada world tour races as WC prep as same country and similar parcours could leave the field wide open in Spain.

My wildcard pick would be Jay Vine finally managing to stay upright long enough to have a tilt at GC and give the first shock winner since Sepp Kuss

Statistically speaking, we have to wait until 2033 to get the next out-of-left-field Vuelta winner. Although that depends slightly on what you consider a shock winner I guess. Vine would maybe count as one. But there's almost always some bigshot who's had a disrupted season and is really fresh for it or some really strong second leader who targets it, like Roglic, Almeida etc. My pick for an upset is mythical Arensman, but he wouldn't be as big of a shock as Horner or Kuss.

 

[hayneplane]

Statistically speaking, we have to wait until 2033 to get the next out-of-left-field Vuelta winner. Although that depends slightly on what you consider a shock winner I guess. Vine would maybe count as one. But there's almost always some bigshot who's had a disrupted season and is really fresh for it or some really strong second leader who targets it, like Roglic, Almeida etc. My pick for an upset is mythical Arensman, but he wouldn't be as big of a shock as Horner or Kuss.

All good points. Hard to really pick a massive shock winner ahead of time to the extent of a Froome/Cobo 2011 as if we can conceive of their name being in the frame they can’t be a totally shocking thought.

Even Tao had shown flashes of GC potential prior to his Giro win but obviously a lot fell into place there with Covid withdrawals and the non standard buildup.

Arensman certainly has the upper tier climbing level and a competent TT to break through if he can fix the problem of losing time in the first couple of days. A hard Giro route likely fits better than a Vuelta full of ramp as inhumanas.

 

[Cycling111]

I don't think the Vuelta is a bad build up for the WC. Okay, maybe going for GC is a bit much, but we've seen plenty of people carrying the good form from the Vuelta to the autumn races afterwards. Evenepoel literally won the WC after winning the Vuelta at the same age as Del Toro is
Ultimately, I don't think it's unreasonable to think that Del Toro can do 2 GT's. UAE have done it with Almeida and Ayuso while 22-23 (okay, Almeida just turned 24 for the Vuelta).

At the end, I think it's up to what Almeida wants. The Giro route seems great for him, but the Vuelta may be his biggest chance to win a GT (assuming Vingegaard does the Giro).

But he didn't do 2 GTs, and obviously he didn't do the Tour.

 

[YavorD]

But he didn't do 2 GTs, and obviously he didn't do the Tour.

But Del Toro isn't set in stone to do the Tour, so it was about his own prospects to do the Vuelta for GC. I don't think they are sending him to do 2 consecutive GT's, nor I think they should.

 

[Cycling111]

But Del Toro isn't set in stone to do the Tour, so it was about his own prospects to do the Vuelta for GC. I don't think they are sending him to do 2 consecutive GT's, nor I think they should.

But it seems he wants to return to the Giro.

It also depends on how the Vuelta will be.
Remco won the Vuelta against Enric Mas in one of the editions with the fewest high mountains.

This year, it seems the Vuelta will be very accessible due to rivals ; we'll have to wait and see the route.

 

[Cycling111]

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