UAE Tour 2026: Questions Linger for Evenepoel, Del Toro Proves His Mettle, and a Brutal New Climb Arrives

Middle East - Ekhbary News Agency

UAE Tour 2026: Questions Linger for Evenepoel, Del Toro Proves His Mettle, and a Brutal New Climb Arrives

Key Takeaways from the Middle East's Sole Elite Men's WorldTour Race

The eighth edition of the men's UAE Tour, the season's first WorldTour event, wrapped up recently, leaving a trail of insights and talking points. As elite cycling resumed in February, the race delivered a compelling mix of surprises and expected performances from some of the sport's biggest names, with the home team, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, once again finishing on top.

Isaac Del Toro: The Rising Star Living Up to the Hype

The standout revelation of the tour was undoubtedly Mexico's Isaac Del Toro, a young talent riding for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Far from just participating, Del Toro emerged as the top rider, securing his first WorldTour stage race overall victory. While anticipated as a main rival to Remco Evenepoel, Del Toro surpassed expectations, demonstrating his prowess not only as a climber but also as a genuine General Classification (GC) contender.

Del Toro's exceptional finish to the 2025 season, marked by numerous victories, hinted at his potential. However, his performance in the UAE Tour showcased an evolution beyond punchy, short races; he proved his mettle on sustained climbs. The challenging ascents of Jebel Mobrah (15km) and Jebel Hafeet (11km) served as perfect tests. Del Toro passed with flying colors, pacing his effort masterfully to secure second place on Jebel Mobrah and launching decisive attacks on Jebel Hafeet to claim the stage win. This victory solidifies his position as a rider to watch for major GC battles.

Remco Evenepoel: Climbing Concerns Surface

In stark contrast, Belgian star Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) experienced a less dominant showing on the decisive climbing stages. Despite a strong start to his season elsewhere and a victory in the UAE Tour's Stage 2 time trial, Evenepoel struggled on the mountain finishes, placing 18th and 15th on the two key climbing days. His team cited several factors, including a lack of altitude training this year, a malfunctioning air conditioner in his room the night before Jebel Mobrah, and the use of a large 68t chainring in the time trial potentially hindering his recovery.

While these explanations might hold some truth, the significant time losses – over two minutes to Antonio Tiberi and another 52 seconds to Del Toro on consecutive climbs – raise concerns. February is still early in the season, and there is ample time for Evenepoel to regroup. However, his upcoming participation in the Volta a Catalunya in March, following an altitude training camp, becomes a crucial litmus test. The UAE Tour highlighted that he is not yet fully prepared for the longest and steepest climbs, a critical aspect for a rider aiming for Grand Tour success.

Antonio Tiberi: A Strong Challenge and Growing Maturity

Italian rider Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) put together an impressive race, highlighted by his victory on the toughest stage, the newly introduced Jebel Mobrah summit finish. Tiberi demonstrated significant climbing strength and tactical acumen, positioning himself as a strong GC contender. He ultimately finished second overall, just 20 seconds behind Del Toro. His win on Jebel Mobrah, a demanding climb, showcased his capabilities and underscored how the new addition to the route significantly altered the race dynamics.

Jonathan Milan: Sprint Dominance Reasserted

In the realm of sprinting, American rider Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) reaffirmed his status as one of the world's fastest men. Despite a crash on the opening day, Milan bounced back emphatically to secure an impressive hat-trick of stage wins in bunch sprints. His dominance was evident, as he consistently outpaced his rivals. While other top sprinters like Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij were absent due to injury and illness respectively, Milan seized the opportunity to showcase his formidable power and form.

Jebel Mobrah: A New Benchmark for Climbing Challenges

The addition of Jebel Mobrah, featuring a brutal final 6km section averaging 12% gradient, proved to be an inspired choice for the UAE Tour. This new climb not only elevated the physical demands of the race but also reshaped the GC battle, creating larger time gaps heading into the final stage than typically seen. Race director Fabrizio D'Amico confirmed that the overwhelmingly positive reception suggests the climb will likely remain a fixture, possibly alternating with Jebel Jais in future editions.

Looking Ahead

As Del Toro prepares to join his team leader Tadej Pogačar for races like the Italian Classics, Strade Bianche, and Milan-San Remo, and later faces Primož Roglič and Juan Ayuso in Tirreno-Adriatico and Itzulia Basque Country, his trajectory appears exceptionally bright. For Evenepoel, the focus shifts to proving his climbing capabilities in upcoming races. The sprint competition, currently dominated by Milan in this edition, is expected to intensify in 2027 with the return of key rivals, especially with the 2028 World Championships slated for Abu Dhabi, a course likely to favor sprinters.

Ekhbary News Agency