Pogačar set to be supported by five teammates from Critérium du Dauphiné success, with João Almeida and Adam Yates rounding out impressive squad
Heading to the Tour de France in search of a fourth title in six years, UAE Team Emirates-XRG can confirm the squad that will support Tadej Pogačar in July.
With a lineup that is strongly packed with both rouleurs and climbers, the eight-man Emirati squad will head into the Tour full of confidence after their recent Critérium du Dauphiné victory.
Five riders who supported Pogačar’s victory earlier this month will be alongside the Slovenian once again, with Marc Soler and Nils Politt two of the most experienced riders within the squad.
Elsewhere, Tim Wellens and Jhonatan Narváez will hope to replicate the impact they had on Pogačar’s stage 6 victory in the Dauphiné, with Pavel Sivakov more than earning his place with an instrumental role in the world champion’s victory on the following stage. Joining the Dauphiné winners at the start of the Tour de France will be two climbers who finished fourth and sixth at last year’s Tour, respectively.
João Almeida will be raring to go as one of the most in-form riders of the year, having become the first man since Bradley Wiggins (2012) to win three of cycling’s ‘big seven’ stage races in the same season. Coming off the back of victories in Itzulia Basque Country, the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de Suisse, the Portuguese rider takes career-best form into July, where he will look to support a Pogačar title push for the second year in succession.
Meanwhile, Adam Yates will return to the race in which he claimed a podium finish in 2023. The British climber memorably won the opening stage and claimed the race’s first yellow jersey that year, before going on to help Pogačar to a third title last summer.
On the hunt for a fourth Tour de France success this time around, Pogačar will be hoping to add to his 17 stage victories to date, having enjoyed an exceptional season that has thus far included victories at the Dauphiné, the Tour of Flanders and Strade Bianche.
With a strong team at his side, the Slovenian is looking forward to what will be his sixth successive Tour de France.
Pogačar: “I’m excited for the Tour to start. I’m lucky to have had close to the perfect preparation this year — everything has gone really smoothly, especially coming off a great altitude camp with my teammates. The vibes in the team are amazing right now, and that gives me a lot of confidence.
“Of course, you can never be fully prepared for something like the Tour de France — it’s unpredictable, and that’s part of what makes it so special.
“I’m expecting a very high level from all the other top riders. The first few days should be really exciting for the fans with some open, aggressive stages, and the last week is very climbing-heavy with some iconic stages. It’s going to be a big fight all the way to Paris, but I’m ready to give everything.
“It’s hard to believe it’s already my sixth Tour de France, time flies.”
Led by Sports Manager Joxean Matxin Fernández and Sports Directors Andrej Hauptman (Slo), Marco Marcato (Ita), and Simone Pedrazzini (SUI), the UAE Team Emirates-XRG lineup is as follows:
– João Almeida (Por)
– Jhonatan Narváez (Ecu)
– Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
– Nils Politt (Ger)
– Pavel Sivakov (Fra)
– Marc Soler (Spa)
– Tim Wellens (Bel)
– Adam Yates (GBR)
Wearing the world champion’s bands and the Ecuadorian national champion’s jerseys, respectively, both Tadej Pogačar and Jhonatan Narváez will stand out from the pack in France, but so too will their UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates. Supplied by historic Italian brand Pissei, the Emirati squad will wear a special-edition kit at this year’s Tour.
