Tour de France team-by-team guide – Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list
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UAE Team Emirates-XRG Tour de France team confirmed as Tadej Pogačar assembles ‘a fantastic group of teammates and staff’ to chase fifth title
News
By
Matilda Price
published
Line-up includes Isaac del Toro, Adam Yates and Tim Wellens with no major surprises but spades of strength
UAE’s winning team last July(Image credit: Getty Images)
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UAE Team Emirates-XRG have confirmed the team that will support Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de France as he chases a record-equalling fifth yellow jersey victory.
There were no major surprises in UAE’s team line-up, confirmed on Monday, but once again the team has assembled an extremely strong group to support Pogačar, including former Grand Tour podium finishers and workhorse rouleurs for the flatter stages and TTT.
For the mountains, Pogačar can rely on the ultra talented Mexican prodigy Isaac del Toro, as well as Grand Tour veteran and long time lieutenant Adam Yates. Brandon McNulty is also back for his third Tour after missing out on selection last year.
In terms of power, which will be especially important for the opening team time trial, UAE have the strong Belgian duo of Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch, newly-minted German TT champion Nils Politt, and the understated but important Felix Großschartner, riding his 12th Grand Tour.
Read more
Tour de France team-by-team guide – Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list
Pogačar praised the strength of the team that UAE have assembled as he tries to win a third consecutive Tour, and fifth of his career.
“I feel good, I’m looking forward to racing, and I know I’ll have a fantastic group of teammates and staff around me,” he said. “We have a lot of confidence in each other and have built up a lot of experience together over the years.
“There will be strong rivals, difficult stages and many other unpredictable moments, but we’re ready to give everything.”
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In terms of experience. Del Toro is the only Tour debutant, but this will be his third Grand Tour after almost winning the Giro d’Italia last year. A strong contender himself, the Mexican is expected to work primarily in support of Pogačar, but is capable of a strong individual result too.
In terms of absences, Monday’s announcement confirmed that João Almeida will not be in action, missing his second Grand Tour of the year as he deals with a mysterious lack of form.
Marc Soler is still out injured, and Jhonatan Narváez raced the Giro instead of the Tour, whilst there was no place for Pavel Sivakov or Mikkel Bjerg.
This mean’s that the line-up for 2026 is fairly different to the team that joined Pogačar in France in 2025, with Politt, Yates and Wellens the only common denominators.
Ever Tour is important for Pogačar and UAE, but there is added significance to this year’s edition, as he has the chance to win a fifth Tour title, and join the small club of five-time winners that currently contains Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.
In preparation, Pogačar has won the Tour de Romandie in Tour de Suisse in recent months, adding to his four Classics wins from the spring, including his maiden Milan-San Remo victory.
“The Tour de France is always the biggest challenge of the season and also the race that motivates us the most,” he said. “Every year, you arrive at the start knowing that anything can happen over three weeks, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Most of Pogačar’s teammates have been training at altitude to prepare for the Tour, but the Slovenian had to rejig his plans to spend time at home after his parter Urška Žigart suffered and injury at the Tour de Suisse. He is still expected to arrive in Barcelona on Tuesday.
“We’ve prepared really well as a team, everyone has worked incredibly hard, and now we’re excited to finally get started in Barcelona,” he said.
“It’s a privilege to wear these colours at the Tour de France, and we’ll do our best to make ourselves, the team and the fans proud.”
UAE Team Emirates-XRG for the 2026 Tour de France
Tadej Pogačar
Isaac del Toro
Felix Großschartner
Brandon McNulty
Nils Politt
Florian Vermeersch
Tim Wellens
Adam Yates
The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! Find out more.
TOPICS
Matilda Price
Assistant Features Editor
Matilda is an NCTJ-qualified journalist based in the UK who joined Cyclingnews in March 2025. Prior to that, she worked as the Racing News Editor at GCN, and extensively as a freelancer contributing to Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Velo, Rouleur, Escape Collective, Red Bull and more. She has reported on the ground at all of the biggest events on the calendar, including the men’s and women’s Tours de France, the Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta a Espana, the Spring Classics and the World Championships. She has particular experience and expertise in women’s cycling, and women’s sport in general. She is a graduate of modern languages and sports journalism.
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LATEST ARTICLES
1
UAE Team Emirates-XRG Tour de France team confirmed as Tadej Pogačar assembles ‘a fantastic group of teammates and staff’ to chase fifth title
2
Write off Jonas Vingegaard at your peril, but there is one thing that could let him down at this Tour de France
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UAE Team Emirates-XRG Tour de France team confirmed as Tadej Pogačar assembles ‘a fantastic group of teammates and staff’ to chase fifth title
News
By
Matilda Price
published
Line-up includes Isaac del Toro, Adam Yates and Tim Wellens with no major surprises but spades of strength
UAE’s winning team last July(Image credit: Getty Images)
Jump To:
Full line-up
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UAE Team Emirates-XRG have confirmed the team that will support Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de France as he chases a record-equalling fifth yellow jersey victory.
There were no major surprises in UAE’s team line-up, confirmed on Monday, but once again the team has assembled an extremely strong group to support Pogačar, including former Grand Tour podium finishers and workhorse rouleurs for the flatter stages and TTT.
For the mountains, Pogačar can rely on the ultra talented Mexican prodigy Isaac del Toro, as well as Grand Tour veteran and long time lieutenant Adam Yates. Brandon McNulty is also back for his third Tour after missing out on selection last year.
In terms of power, which will be especially important for the opening team time trial, UAE have the strong Belgian duo of Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch, newly-minted German TT champion Nils Politt, and the understated but important Felix Großschartner, riding his 12th Grand Tour.
Read more
Tour de France team-by-team guide – Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list
Pogačar praised the strength of the team that UAE have assembled as he tries to win a third consecutive Tour, and fifth of his career.
“I feel good, I’m looking forward to racing, and I know I’ll have a fantastic group of teammates and staff around me,” he said. “We have a lot of confidence in each other and have built up a lot of experience together over the years.
“There will be strong rivals, difficult stages and many other unpredictable moments, but we’re ready to give everything.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
In terms of experience. Del Toro is the only Tour debutant, but this will be his third Grand Tour after almost winning the Giro d’Italia last year. A strong contender himself, the Mexican is expected to work primarily in support of Pogačar, but is capable of a strong individual result too.
In terms of absences, Monday’s announcement confirmed that João Almeida will not be in action, missing his second Grand Tour of the year as he deals with a mysterious lack of form.
Marc Soler is still out injured, and Jhonatan Narváez raced the Giro instead of the Tour, whilst there was no place for Pavel Sivakov or Mikkel Bjerg.
This mean’s that the line-up for 2026 is fairly different to the team that joined Pogačar in France in 2025, with Politt, Yates and Wellens the only common denominators.
Ever Tour is important for Pogačar and UAE, but there is added significance to this year’s edition, as he has the chance to win a fifth Tour title, and join the small club of five-time winners that currently contains Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.
In preparation, Pogačar has won the Tour de Romandie in Tour de Suisse in recent months, adding to his four Classics wins from the spring, including his maiden Milan-San Remo victory.
“The Tour de France is always the biggest challenge of the season and also the race that motivates us the most,” he said. “Every year, you arrive at the start knowing that anything can happen over three weeks, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Most of Pogačar’s teammates have been training at altitude to prepare for the Tour, but the Slovenian had to rejig his plans to spend time at home after his parter Urška Žigart suffered and injury at the Tour de Suisse. He is still expected to arrive in Barcelona on Tuesday.
“We’ve prepared really well as a team, everyone has worked incredibly hard, and now we’re excited to finally get started in Barcelona,” he said.
“It’s a privilege to wear these colours at the Tour de France, and we’ll do our best to make ourselves, the team and the fans proud.”
UAE Team Emirates-XRG for the 2026 Tour de France
Tadej Pogačar
Isaac del Toro
Felix Großschartner
Brandon McNulty
Nils Politt
Florian Vermeersch
Tim Wellens
Adam Yates
The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! Find out more.
TOPICS
Matilda Price
Assistant Features Editor
Matilda is an NCTJ-qualified journalist based in the UK who joined Cyclingnews in March 2025. Prior to that, she worked as the Racing News Editor at GCN, and extensively as a freelancer contributing to Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Velo, Rouleur, Escape Collective, Red Bull and more. She has reported on the ground at all of the biggest events on the calendar, including the men’s and women’s Tours de France, the Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta a Espana, the Spring Classics and the World Championships. She has particular experience and expertise in women’s cycling, and women’s sport in general. She is a graduate of modern languages and sports journalism.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
LATEST ARTICLES
1
UAE Team Emirates-XRG Tour de France team confirmed as Tadej Pogačar assembles ‘a fantastic group of teammates and staff’ to chase fifth title
2
Write off Jonas Vingegaard at your peril, but there is one thing that could let him down at this Tour de France
3
Irish National Championships: Seth Dunwoody edges Rory Townsend to win elite men’s title
4
British National Championships: Fred Wright outsprints Lewis Askey and Connor Swift to win elite men’s road title
5
Dutch National Championships: Lieke Nooijen wins two-up sprint victory over Femke Markus
UAE Team Emirates-XRG Tour de France team confirmed as Tadej Pogačar assembles ‘a fantastic group of teammates and staff’ to chase fifth title
News
By
Matilda Price
published
Line-up includes Isaac del Toro, Adam Yates and Tim Wellens with no major surprises but spades of strength
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter
UAE Team Emirates-XRG have confirmed the team that will support Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de France as he chases a record-equalling fifth yellow jersey victory.
There were no major surprises in UAE’s team line-up, confirmed on Monday, but once again the team has assembled an extremely strong group to support Pogačar, including former Grand Tour podium finishers and workhorse rouleurs for the flatter stages and TTT.
For the mountains, Pogačar can rely on the ultra talented Mexican prodigy Isaac del Toro, as well as Grand Tour veteran and long time lieutenant Adam Yates. Brandon McNulty is also back for his third Tour after missing out on selection last year.
In terms of power, which will be especially important for the opening team time trial, UAE have the strong Belgian duo of Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch, newly-minted German TT champion Nils Politt, and the understated but important Felix Großschartner, riding his 12th Grand Tour.
Read more
Tour de France team-by-team guide – Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list
Pogačar praised the strength of the team that UAE have assembled as he tries to win a third consecutive Tour, and fifth of his career.
“I feel good, I’m looking forward to racing, and I know I’ll have a fantastic group of teammates and staff around me,” he said. “We have a lot of confidence in each other and have built up a lot of experience together over the years.
“There will be strong rivals, difficult stages and many other unpredictable moments, but we’re ready to give everything.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
In terms of experience. Del Toro is the only Tour debutant, but this will be his third Grand Tour after almost winning the Giro d’Italia last year. A strong contender himself, the Mexican is expected to work primarily in support of Pogačar, but is capable of a strong individual result too.
In terms of absences, Monday’s announcement confirmed that João Almeida will not be in action, missing his second Grand Tour of the year as he deals with a mysterious lack of form.
Marc Soler is still out injured, and Jhonatan Narváez raced the Giro instead of the Tour, whilst there was no place for Pavel Sivakov or Mikkel Bjerg.
This mean’s that the line-up for 2026 is fairly different to the team that joined Pogačar in France in 2025, with Politt, Yates and Wellens the only common denominators.
Ever Tour is important for Pogačar and UAE, but there is added significance to this year’s edition, as he has the chance to win a fifth Tour title, and join the small club of five-time winners that currently contains Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.
In preparation, Pogačar has won the Tour de Romandie in Tour de Suisse in recent months, adding to his four Classics wins from the spring, including his maiden Milan-San Remo victory.
“The Tour de France is always the biggest challenge of the season and also the race that motivates us the most,” he said. “Every year, you arrive at the start knowing that anything can happen over three weeks, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Most of Pogačar’s teammates have been training at altitude to prepare for the Tour, but the Slovenian had to rejig his plans to spend time at home after his parter Urška Žigart suffered and injury at the Tour de Suisse. He is still expected to arrive in Barcelona on Tuesday.
“We’ve prepared really well as a team, everyone has worked incredibly hard, and now we’re excited to finally get started in Barcelona,” he said.
“It’s a privilege to wear these colours at the Tour de France, and we’ll do our best to make ourselves, the team and the fans proud.”
UAE Team Emirates-XRG for the 2026 Tour de France
Tadej Pogačar
Isaac del Toro
Felix Großschartner
Brandon McNulty
Nils Politt
Florian Vermeersch
Tim Wellens
Adam Yates
The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! Find out more.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.