UAE Tour 2026, February 16-22

[Alexandre B.]

UAE riders are by default favorites to win GC stage races. Regardless of Evenepoel.

 

[Salvarani]

Yeah I agree Remco is the favorite for the race with Del Toro being second favorite.

However even if Remco gets beaten here by Del Toro it doesnt mean that it is a big failure from Remco’s side.

For me its almost a certainty that Del Toro will be amongst the biggest stars in cycling, and it is just a question of when he will be able to challenge the current biggest stars such as Evenepoel.

Dont think anyone suggested it would be a big failure if Remco lost. We are not there yet or knows whats gonna happen in the race.

Just thought it was strange how one was bigging up Del Toro as the favorite over Remco, as of now.

 

[Cycling111]

@Alexandre B. Yastes has lost Oman.

 

[Alexandre B.]

@Alexandre B. Yastes has lost Oman.

It isn’t WT though.

 

[Potomac]

Dont think anyone suggested it would be a big failure if Remco lost. We are not there yet or knows whats gonna happen in the race.

Just thought it was strange how one was bigging up Del Toro as the favorite over Remco, as of now.

If you look back somebody said IDT was "a favorite" not "the favorite"....not strange at all, why be obsessed?

 

[Cycling111]

It isn’t WT though.

They're not favorites for every WT stage-races either. Visma won two GT last year, and Vingegaard this year is favorite for Catalunya and Giro.

 

[repre]

With Pogi and Del Toro we are f*cked for the next 10 years at least.

 

[AlfaLum]

Dont think anyone suggested it would be a big failure if Remco lost. We are not there yet or knows whats gonna happen in the race.

Just thought it was strange how one was bigging up Del Toro as the favorite over Remco, as of now.

I Read some comment that it would be worrying for Remco if he is not superior to Del Toro this year.

But this type of stage definitely fits with Del Toros strenghts and I dont think it is worrying for Remco if he is beaten here.

 

[Salvarani]

If you look back somebody said IDT was "a favorite" not "the favorite"....not strange at all, why be obsessed?

And I responded exactly that. You good mate?

 

[Salvarani]

I Read some comment that it would be worrying for Remco if he is not superior to Del Toro this year.

But this type of stage definitely fits with Del Toros strenghts and I dont think it is worrying for Remco if he is beaten here.

Yup, agreed.

 

[Red Rick]

The pressure is absolutely on Evenepoel to win this.

You cant be as hyped as he is and lose this to an up and comer like 5 years younger

 

[Berniece]

The pressure is absolutely on Evenepoel to win this.

You cant be as hyped as he is and lose this to an up and comer like 5 years younger

Who was 2nd in the Giro last year and lost it because of a tactical blunder...

 

[jotafap]

Not that I think Del Toro is the clear favorite for this race, but I find it funny how so many people just assume as a fact that the Mexican won’t be riding at the level of the biggest stars for at least part of the season.

For all we know, he could be a generational talent, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he takes another big step up this year. I was already going to say it yesterday, today is just another warning.

Let’s see if it’s not already in 2026 that he officially turns into a monster.

 

[red_flanders]

Welp, I'm impressed. That looked crazy strong!

 

[Cycling111]

Who was 2nd in the Giro last year and lost it because of a tactical blunder...

Against Vingegaard's Tour domestique who hadn't won a GT since 2018 and Carapaz who has no chance of a podium in the Tour since 2022.

If Remco aims for second place in the Tour and take a step forward as is being discussed in his thread, his benchmark can't be those Giro riders.
Otherwise, everything discussed in his thread was based on unrealistic expectations.

If Remco's goal is to surpass Vingegaard and close the gap with Pogacar, Simon Yates and Carapaz aren't in his league.

 

[Squire]

Not that I think Del Toro is the clear favorite for this race, but I find it funny how so many people just assume as a fact that the Mexican won’t be riding at the level of the biggest stars for at least part of the season.

For all we know, he could be a generational talent, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he takes another big step up this year. I was already going to say it yesterday, today is just another warning.

Let’s see if it’s not already in 2026 that he officially turns into a monster.

I don't have a particular opinion about Del Toro specifically, but the relative status quo/stability that we've had in the top echelon of the sport for the past years is a bit of an historical anomaly. So you're right that it's quite dangerous to blindly assume that it continues.

 

[Cycling111]

Not that I think Del Toro is the clear favorite for this race, but I find it funny how so many people just assume as a fact that the Mexican won’t be riding at the level of the biggest stars for at least part of the season.

For all we know, he could be a generational talent, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he takes another big step up this year. I was already going to say it yesterday, today is just another warning.

Let’s see if it’s not already in 2026 that he officially turns into a monster.

I think the discussion is more about Remco. If he wants to take another step forward this year and aim for win the Tour in the comming year's (not this year), he needs to start as a favorite in the races where Pogacar and Vineggaard aren't competing, and not have any doubts about whether he'll be able to perform well on that mountain tomorrow.

In his thread, we've been reading for months that this is the objective, but there's still some fear that he won't be able to win tomorrow.

I think he will win tomorrow, but at the same time, I don't think he'll beat Vineggaard in the Tour or be near.
But if they start with doubts about not giving him the favoritism for this races, then it's difficult to support what they say about him improving his chances in the Tour or against Pogacar in other races.

 

[Berniece]

Against Vingegaard's Tour domestique who hadn't won a GT since 2018 and Carapaz who has no chance of a podium in the Tour since 2022.

If Remco aims for second place in the Tour and take a step forward as is being discussed in his thread, his benchmark can't be those Giro riders.
Otherwise, everything discussed in his thread was based on unrealistic expectations.

If Remco's goal is to surpass Vingegaard and close the gap with Pogacar, Simon Yates and Carapaz aren't in his league.

So everyone can take a step forward, except the even younger guy named Del Toro? Look I think we are in for a good fight, I don't expect this to be an easy victory for Evenepoel. People saying it should be are just trying to spin the narrative already.

 

[Berniece]

In his thread, we've been reading for months that this is the objective, but there's still some fear that he won't be able to win tomorrow.

Yeah, because Tarling is also riding the ITT, and he could've taken a big step forward.

 

[Rob5091]

As I posted before, when the road goes up, we'll see what shape Remco is in.

 

[RedheadDane]

That's perfectly possible:

Jonathan MILAN
vs. MILAN Frétin
vs. MILAN Menten.

Don't forget Matteo MILAN.

 

[Rob5091]

First Pedersen and now Milan - not a happy time for Lidl-Trek.

 

[yaco]

I WANT to see how close Tarling can get to remco in the ITT. I think he can run him close.

 

[red_flanders]

I WANT to see how close Tarling can get to remco in the ITT. I think he can run him close.

It's 12.2k. It'll be close whether it's Tarling or someone else.

 

[Berniece]

I WANT to see how close Tarling can get to remco in the ITT. I think he can run him close.

I can see Tarling win it if he's in decent shape