Our Correspondent
In just four years, UAE Team Emirates has moved from being a start-up cycling team to a world class organisation that has now won the biggest bike race in the world with its star rider, Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian cyclist, who turned 22 on September 21, officially became the youngest post-war Tour winner in what was his first Tour de France.
According to WAM, the historical win came after three gruelling weeks and 3,385km of racing across France with a committed team behind him. Seven other riders took to the start line on August 29 in Nice with one primary goal – and that was to win the overall classification with their leader, Tadej Pogacar.
Not only has this goal been achieved, but the team has also managed to win four of the 21 individual stages (Alexander Kristoff – stage 1, Tadej Pogacar stages 9, 15 and 20) and take hold of the Young Rider’s white jersey and the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey.
Whilst Pogacar will be heralded as the man of the moment, the effort of the team cannot be underestimated. Throughout the race he was able to rely on his formidable squad comprising David De La Cruz, Davide Formolo, Fabio Aru, Alexander Kristoff, Vegard Stake Laengen, Marco Marcato and his oldest friend Jan Polanc. It was their selfless drive as teammates, along with Pogacar’s innate talent, which gave the beautiful victory for UAE Team Emirates.
While this is undoubtedly the biggest victory the team has achieved in its four years of racing, it is certainly not the first.
In 2019, 31 wins were recorded including Pogacar’s three stage victories at the Vuelta a Espana. In 2018 and 2017, the team achieved 14 and 19 victories respectively.
This year, its riders have already stood on the podium’s top spot no less than 28 times, four of which have been National Championships, and the season is only halfway through.
There is a clear upward trajectory for UAE Team Emirates, who have improved their squad and their performances year on year – and with Pogacar signed up on a long-term contract until 2024, things can only get better.
