Tadej Pogacar to Ride Tour and Vuelta

UAE Team Emirates have confirmed to us the first hint at what their plans are for the 2021 grand tours. And, to be honest, they’re not exactly shocking.

In the Giro d’Italia, they’ll be taking former Italian national champion Davide Formolo, plus Brandon McNulty and Fernando Gaviria. That combo has to be good for at least a stage win, right?

Moving into July, Tadej Pogačar will attempt to defend his 2020 Tour de France victory. New signing Marc Hirshi—a signing Mauro Gianetti has described as the biggest and most impactful of the off-season—will primarily target stage victories while doing his best to support Pogacar. Not sure how well that’ll go, but Pogacar did fine without a team last year, so. Finally, Alexander Kristoff will return. He won the first stage last year—his fourth career Tour stage win—and wore both the yellow and green jerseys.

Perhaps the only surprise on UAE’s shortlist is the inclusion of Tadej Pogačar again for the Vuelta a Espana. He’ll be supported there by Matteo Trentin and David De La Cruz.

That’s only three riders confirmed for each grand tour. So don’t sweat it if you’re not on the list yet: a call up from UAE could still be on the cards.