UAE-Team Emirates thread

[Berniece]

But what has Remco actually proved so far? We already knew his ITT is elite, as well as his riding on flat/shallow gradients and long solos. So we'll have to wait until we see if his punch/climbing is also elite

That he's in decent form. But first actual test is UAE Tour

 

[vappaxbipmv]

That he's in decent form. But first actual test is UAE Tour

So nothing

 

[Berniece]

So nothing

Not sure what you expected. Can he show anything unless it’s a bigger race against better opposition? Even if he went for a 150km solo in Mallorca it wouldn’t mean anything

 

[tobydawq]

Sure, but Roglic, Lipowitz and Hindley are also not riding yet. Same goes for Pithie, Vermeersch and Van Gils.

What do you mean?

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Not sure what you expected. Can he show anything unless it’s a bigger race against better opposition? Even if he went for a 150km solo in Mallorca it wouldn’t mean anything

No, he can't show anything new yet. But some are making conclusions how great he looks and how dominant he is, as if on this terrain that's something unexpected

 

[yaco]

They send Vine and Narvaez to TDU after an altitude camp...

Exactly when and where was the altutitude camp? In the case of Vine it was at his home in Andorra training in december. He started the Aussie national Championship on Jan8 and the TDU started jan 20. I assume Narvaez did his altitude at home in Ecuador.

 

[Berniece]

What do you mean?

Pithie was unlucky last season, don’t you think he has more in him than he showed?

 

[Berniece]

Exactly when and where was the altutitude camp? In the case of Vine it was at his home in Andorra training in december. He started the Aussie national Championship on Jan8 and the TDU started jan 20. I assume Narvaez did his altitude at home in Ecuador.

I can’t remember if someone said it here or if I read it in an article. I’ll follow up if I don’t forget

 

[tobydawq]

Pithie was unlucky last season, don’t you think he has more in him than he showed?

But you said they hadn't started yet which isn't true for Pithie and Van Gils.

 

[Berniece]

But you said they hadn't started yet which isn't true for Pithie and Van Gils.

Completely forgot he already rode TDU

 

[Berniece]

Exactly when and where was the altutitude camp? In the case of Vine it was at his home in Andorra training in december. He started the Aussie national Championship on Jan8 and the TDU started jan 20. I assume Narvaez did his altitude at home in Ecuador.

It was indeed at home in Andorra, does that change anything? They clearly went for an early peak.

 

[yaco]

It was indeed at home in Andorra, does that change anything? They clearly went for an early peak.

I dont think it changes anything, as you can also do altutude in Andorra if you live there, however, the narrative is you need to leave your home base and travel to somewhere like Calpe.

 

[Tim Cahill]

'If there is one race I can be better than Pogacar, it is Paris-Roubaix' - Florian Vermeersch sets his spring agenda at UAE

Valencia is not where Florian Vermeersch expects his season to be decided, but it is where he wants to set the tone. The 26-year-old gravel world champion…

www.domestiquecycling.com

Vermeersch going for Roubaix, he has the calibre to be up near the front but I think his co-leader ambitions might not go down too well.

 

[Cycling111]

'If there is one race I can be better than Pogacar, it is Paris-Roubaix' - Florian Vermeersch sets his spring agenda at UAE

Valencia is not where Florian Vermeersch expects his season to be decided, but it is where he wants to set the tone. The 26-year-old gravel world champion…

www.domestiquecycling.com

We saw in 2025.I want the self-esteem of this guy.

But I think the headline phrase is clickbait.

 

[Berniece]

We saw in 2025.I want the self-esteem of this guy.

But I think the headline phrase is clickbait.

Indeed, in 2025 he was the perfect teammate by not closing down the gap to Pogacar

 

[Cycling111]

What was the last stage race where they didn't win anything?

They always win a stage or the GC.

Depending on Remco's climbing level, the same thing could happen to them in UAE Tour. There, Molano will have Merlier and better sprinters than in Oman. It all depends on Del Toro. He could have a chance on Jebel Jais stage because he's very explosive. It depends on Remco's level on those climbs and whether Del Toro can follow him; otherwise, it could be their second stage race without victories.

Adam Yates is also in UAE Tour, but his level has declined in the last two years. He has the capacity to win Oman, like last year againts rivals like Schmid or Parent-Peintre. Last year he wasn't as dominant and won GC without a stage.

In Algarve, Almleida will face Ayuso again. Algarve finishes are explosive, ideal for Ayuso.

 

[yaco]

I'm struggling to work out why they rode so hard to catch the break today, seeing they had no obvious sprinter.

 

[Monsi]

What was the last stage race where they didn't win anything?

They always win a stage or the GC.

Depending on Remco's climbing level, the same thing could happen to them in UAE Tour. There, Molano will have Merlier and better sprinters than in Oman. It all depends on Del Toro. He could have a chance on Jebel Jais stage because he's very explosive. It depends on Remco's level on those climbs and whether Del Toro can follow him; otherwise, it could be their second stage race without victories.

Adam Yates is also in UAE Tour, but his level has declined in the last two years. He has the capacity to win Oman, like last year againts rivals like Schmid or Parent-Peintre. Last year he wasn't as dominant and won GC without a stage.

In Algarve, Almleida will face Ayuso again. Algarve finishes are explosive, ideal for Ayuso.

Jebel Jais is replaced by the much steeper Jebel Mobrah, which is like 7 km at almost 12%

 

[SHAD0W93]

In Algarve, Almleida will face Ayuso again. Algarve finishes are explosive, ideal for Ayuso.

Almeida > Ayuso

 

[Squire]

Almeida > Ayuso

Not on that route, I think. But Almeida might be ahead in terms of race sharpness.

 

[Offline]

Not on that route, I think. But Almeida might be ahead in terms of race sharpness.

Ayuso can be trusted - either climb like a sprinter or he is top 3 in world. You never know what you are going to get

 

[Wyndbrook]

Mrs Wyndbrook has just said I've become a little poggi, thought for a moment I must have been flying on yesterdays ride. Or perhaps its the aftermath of excess christmas puds and mincepies.

 

[Cycling111]

Molano saved them from having two stage races without a win.

We'll see at UAE Tour. With Remco, they'll have a difficult to win, and Molano with Milan will too.
Looking Adam Yates, if Del Toro is in shape, Adam will be his domestique.

Jay Vine could have done better in UAE Tour. He's the one who's shown the best shape this season, along with Morgado, who's at a similar level to last year to win races without much competition in Mallorca.

Adam Yates seemed to be in decline last year. He was very poor in the Giro, although he was good the two days they needed him in TDF. But it certainly seems that, based on his form, Vine should be at the Tour, but it appears they don't want to take him for fear of accidents.

 

[Rou]

The UAE team has been and still remains a one man team.
All these inflated victories against plumbers last year don't change that.
Now Yates can't even beat them on his favourite terrain.
Next week we'll see if del Toro has made a step up but my expectation is that Remco will mop the floor with him.

 

[Offline]

Yates is over his due date. Giving him 3 years contact extension was crazy by UAE. He can't win anymore and don't see him taking over Majka's role. UAE should have signed a more clear helper instead of giving Yates 3 years more.

I would rather have had Majka for 3 years more tbh