UAE Tour 2026, February 16-22

[Berniece]

Moderators can create their own OP then if you wish to alter mine.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Remco is looking strong but it's also possible that after stage 3 the main topic here will be his weight (again!)

 

[Samamba]

A LOT of wind predicted for stage 1.

I think we'll see some echelon carnage, guaranteed, unless the wind it's too much of a tailwind but I think its basically perfect for echelons? Experts?

Professional weather forecast

50+ weather layers, weather radar and satellite

www.windy.com

 

[James M]

Hopefully a lot of echelons, which UAE always has the potential for. The TT stage should be a banger. Tarling of course, but Hayter is a sleeper on these shorter TTs. Both obviously should only be a benchmark for Remco.

 

[Cycling111]

Hopefully a lot of echelons, which UAE always has the potential for. The TT stage should be a banger. Tarling of course, but Hayter is a sleeper on these shorter TTs. Both obviously should only be a benchmark for Remco.

In Valencia, yes, because his team was far superior to the rest, but in general, I'd say it's the complete opposite.

Last year, they left Pogacar alone on the schelons in a group with the entire Visma. Not even riders like Pollitt or Wellens were there.

Last year in Paris-Nice, they lost the race because of the schelons, all team behind.

Adam Yates lost UAE Tour against Remco because the whole team was dropped on the schelon.

Those are just three recent examples. There have been more in other races.

What happened in Murcia was the exception, on a very short stage and without a other strong team. Movistar riders are very bad for echelons except for Quintana and Romeo; it was surprising that Juanpe was even there, one of the worst riders in the peloton on the schelons.

 

[James M]

In Valencia, yes, because his team was far superior to the rest, but in general, I'd say it's the complete opposite.

Last year, they left Pogacar alone on the schelons in a group with the entire Visma. Not even riders like Pollitt or Wellens were there.

Last year in Paris-Nice, they lost the race because of the schelons, all team behind.

Adam Yates lost UAE Tour against Remco because the whole team was dropped on the schelon.

Those are just three recent examples. There have been more in other races.

What happened in Murcia was the exception, on a very short stage and without a other strong team. Movistar riders are very bad for echelons except for Quintana and Romeo; it was surprising that Juanpe was even there, one of the worst riders in the peloton on the schelons.

Which UAE Tour always has potential for.*

 

[Cycling111]

Which UAE Tour always has potential for.*

LOL.
Obviously I was wrong and thought you were referring to the team 😂

So we agreed that Bora should force the situation.

 

[Red Rick]

Not gonna lie Jebel Mobrah is very intriguing. But Vingegaard not racing is whelming.

 

[yaco]

It's 24 hrs before the race and only just over half the teams have been announced. Its not good enough1

 

[Berniece]

A LOT of wind predicted for stage 1.

I think we'll see some echelon carnage, guaranteed, unless the wind it's too much of a tailwind but I think its basically perfect for echelons? Experts?

Professional weather forecast

50+ weather layers, weather radar and satellite

www.windy.com

It's only in the first 50km that it might be interesting, right? There's enough wind, but it mostly comes from the back, not sure they'll be able to easily create echelons. Don't you need it come from the front/side?

 

[Faserr]

It's only in the first 50km that it might be interesting, right? There's enough wind, but it mostly comes from the back, not sure they'll be able to easily create echelons. Don't you need it come from the front/side?

You need side/tailwind

 

[Berniece]

You need side/tailwind

So the complete opposite of what I said. You would think after watching cycling for more than 20 years, you would know such a thing.

 

[Faserr]

The wind could be a but too much from the back tomorrow to create big gaps. But I think its enough for the bunch to be really nervous and fast.

 

[Samamba]

The wind could be a but too much from the back tomorrow to create big gaps. But I think its enough for the bunch to be really nervous and fast.

Yeah that's the question, is it too much tail or not, we'll see tomorrow, but it will definitely be some chaos, and Berniece is right that's it's mainly the first 60km, which is a long stretch, but if there's enough teams behind with a good reason to ride, they could come back or limit the damage in the second part of the race when they will be between the dunes (less wind, and they change directions sometimes).

I know there will a few GC riders shitting their pants tho, Van Eetvelt definitely one of them. Gall another one (but he has a good team around him), Gaudu, ...

 

[Pozzovivo]

Considerin only the racing aspects, I really enjoy the UAE Tour. I think it is quite underrated and actually adds a lot to the WorldTour calendar, in some ways more than several of the European races.

The sprint field is almost always world class. In a typical season, only the Giro and the Tour clearly have stronger lineups, and the race delivers good sprint finishes year after year.

The GC field is usually solid, even if it is not always the very best climbers, and the route asks for a pretty wide set of skills. Crosswinds often shape the race, there is normally a proper flat ITT, and the climbs test different qualities. Jebel Jais and Hatta Dam in earlier editions reward punch and positioning, while Jebel Hafeet and Jebel Mobra are more about raw climbing ability.

Well balanced overall. Just a genuinely good race to watch.

Must be said - this year we lack the punchy stuff and both the GC and sprint field seems unusually weak!

 

[Samamba]

Must be said - this year we lack the punchy stuff and both the GC and sprint field seems unusually weak!

Sprint field is weak (no Merlier and Philipsen), but GC field is as strong as always? If not stronger? Last 3 years were worse for example. Remco, Del Torro, Yates, Tiberi, Gall, Gee, Johannessen, Storer, Van Eetvelt, Van Wilder, ... that's pretty decent. Only the 2022 probably had a better GC field. If Vingegaard was here it would've been the best yet.

Also the "punchy stuff" (Hatta Dam) has been gone for years.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Sprint field is weak (no Merlier and Philipsen), but GC field is as strong as always? If not stronger? Last 3 years were worse for example. Remco, Del Torro, Yates, Tiberi, Gall, Gee, Johannessen, Storer, Van Eetvelt, Van Wilder, ... that's pretty decent. Only the 2022 probably had a better GC field. If Vingegaard was here it would've been the best yet.

Also the "punchy stuff" (Hatta Dam) has been gone for years.

Jebel jais is also typically a sprint of 10+ GC riders. That's a punch skillset being tested in my opinion. And the first stage last year and this year is kinda punchy actually.

GC field is maybe stronger than I fist thought this. Big Q over the form of some of them, though.

 

[Cycling111]

Jebel jais is also typically a sprint of 10+ GC riders. That's a punch skillset being tested in my opinion. And the first stage last year and this year is kinda punchy actually.

GC field is maybe stronger than I fist thought this. Big Q over the form of some of them, though.

UAE Tour has a stronger rider (Remco), but this year there are more GT contenders in Algarve.
Ayuso, Almeida, Lipowitz, Onley, Vauquelin, McNulty, Martínez, Carapaz. And new contenders like Seixas and Widar.

And due to illness, top sprinters' field is reduced to Milan. The best thing in UAE Tour was to see the first face to face between them, but Merlier and Kooij won't be there.

 

[RedheadDane]

And due to illness, top sprinters' field is reduced to Milan.

Have we reached the points where the sprints will be Milan vs. Milan?

 

[KoopaCycling]

Cattaneo, Moscon, Fischer-Black, Herzog as Remco main help.
Not bad, but also not the most star studded support. I don't see Red Bull going for the echelon.
Then again, most teams haven't brought their a listers.

I mean some nice names, but also some clear omissions.

 

[Berniece]

Cattaneo, Moscon, Fischer-Black, Herzog as Remco main help.
Not bad, but also not the most star studded support. I don't see Red Bull going for the echelon.
Then again, most teams haven't brought their a listers.

I mean some nice names, but also some clear omissions.

I think they have a decent team for echelons. They mostly miss firepower in the two mountain stages. But that should be fine too after the ITT when he's leading. He can just follow UAE train, and see if they are able to drop him.

 

[KoopaCycling]

I think they have a decent team for echelons. They mostly miss firepower in the two mountain stages. But that should be fine too after the ITT when he's leading. He can just follow UAE train, and see if they are able to drop him.

It's hard to judge given that i barely know half of the names on the startlist (overstatement)
It's a WT stage race, but also just a warm up event clearly. For some reason i just don't expect to see much echelon action. That's just my biased gut feeling. There 's a 100% chance i'm proven wrong. It will be a good barometer check though, as i do feel it's top heavy.

 

[James M]

With this start list and the type of riders here and the monster list in Algarve we had Algarve route for UAE Tour and wice versa. Del Toro vs. Remco on explosive hills would be great, likewise it would be fun to see the many strong climbers in Algarve take on Jebel Mobrah.

Either way dont get me wrong this is very good for februar cant really complain.

 

[James M]

I want to see some proper watts from Remco here no oompa loompa excuses. Those days hopefully left behind at QS