Tadej Poga\u010dar was already the favorite to win the Tour de France.<\/p>\n
UAE Emirates-XRG didn\u2019t leave much to chance Monday, naming a stacked seven-man support crew for bid at a record-tying fifth yellow jersey.<\/p>\n
Isaac del Toro. Adam Yates. Brandon McNulty. Nils Politt. Tim Wellens. Felix Gro\u00dfschartner. Florian Vermeersch.<\/p>\n
Even without Jo\u00e3o Almeida, Marc Soler, Pavel Sivakov, or Jay Vine, UAE still brings what might be the strongest team in the 2026 Tour.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve prepared really well as a team, everyone has worked incredibly hard, and now we\u2019re excited to finally get started in Barcelona,\u201d Poga\u010dar said as UAE confirmed its eight-man roster Monday.<\/p>\n
UAE brings firepower on the flats and mountains in a balanced but world-class deep squad of hitters to fully back the Slovenian superstar.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel good, I\u2019m looking forward to racing, and I know I\u2019ll have a fantastic group of teammates around me,\u201d Poga\u010dar said Monday. \u201cWe have a lot of confidence in each other and have built up a lot of experience together over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
And with Poga\u010dar chasing history, UAE is sending a Tour-crushing machine.<\/p>\n
Del Toro making Mexican history<\/h2>\n
Del Toro\u00a0will debut as one of the most anticipated Tour rookies in recent memory (not counting Paul Seixas, of course).<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old would probably be leading half the teams in France. Instead, he\u2019ll spend July riding for Poga\u010dar.<\/p>\n
Hot off winning the Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alps, \u201cEl Torito\u201d is expected to be the last man in the mountains.<\/p>\n
Del Toro is playing down the pressure, and insists he\u2019s coming to fully support Poga\u010dar.<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll also be making history as just the third Mexican to start the Tour de France, and the first since Miguel Arroyo in 1997.<\/p>\n
The mountain crew: Yates and McNulty<\/h2>\n
When Poga\u010dar wants to light up the climbs \u2014 be it on the Tourmalet or over the Galibier \u2014 UAE has the riders to turn the knife before he even accelerates.<\/p>\n
Yates is back after crashing out of the Giro. At 33, the former Tour podium finisher is healthy again and is ready for his 10th Tour start.<\/p>\n
McNulty returns for his first Tour since 2022, and the Arizonan gives UAE another rider who can set tempo or cover the dangerous moves deep in the mountains.<\/p>\n
Add up Del Toro, Yates, and McNulty, and no GC favorite will have the front-line climbing support like Poga\u010dar.<\/p>\n
The engine room<\/h2>\n
The other half of the team will be working in the trenches.<\/p>\n
Poga\u010dar will still need protection on the flats, and UAE has that covered with two classics brawlers.<\/p>\n
Politt has emerged as one of the best bodyguards in the peloton. Vermeersch adds another classics motor who can fight for position, chase down breaks, and keep Poga\u010dar out of the wind.<\/p>\n
Wellens \u2014 back in top health \u2014 brings punch and road captain wisdom.<\/p>\n
The last addition is Gro\u00dfschartner, who can cover moves, attack, and survive chaotic terrain.<\/p>\n
Rivals won\u2019t have it easy<\/h2>\n
UAE\u2019s Tour 8 is the nightmare scenario for everyone trying to beat Poga\u010dar, who arrives after a spectacular 2026.<\/p>\n
The UAE confirmation Monday comes as strongest GC field of the Poga\u010dar era is lining up in Barcelona on July 4.<\/p>\n
Jonas Vingegaard is back in full health. Remco Evenepoel has the Red Bull super team behind him, and Seixas is debuts with huge expectations.<\/p>\n
But Poga\u010dar will bring arguably the best team in the race.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be strong rivals, difficult stages and many other unpredictable moments, but we\u2019re ready to give everything,\u201d Poga\u010dar said.<\/p>\n
Beating Peak Poga\u010dar was already a near-impossible task.<\/p>\n
Now everyone has to get through UAE first.<\/p>\n
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