Updated February 15, 2026 05:26PM
Remco Evenepoel arrives at the UAE Tour with a clear objective: to bolster his WorldTour general classification win tally. Despite a glittering career boasting 13 stage race victories, only three have come at the highest WorldTour level. As the Belgian prepares to compete in the Middle East, he’s acutely aware of the statistical gap separating him from rivals Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard.
“At this stage of my career, WorldTour wins matter more to me than ProTour wins,” Evenepoel told Sporza on the eve of the race. This ambition is underscored by his previous triumph at the UAE Tour in 2023, alongside victories at the 2022 Vuelta a España and the 2020 Tour de Pologne.
The statistics paint a compelling picture. Pogačar has secured 19 overall race wins, with a remarkable 73 percent (14) coming at the WorldTour level. Vingegaard’s record shows a 64 percent split – seven WorldTour wins out of 11 overall victories. Evenepoel’s 23 percent, while still indicative of a highly successful career, highlights an area for potential growth.
With 72 professional victories to his name, Evenepoel’s talent is undeniable. However, the comparison to Pogačar and Vingegaard underscores a difference in the proportion of top-tier wins. A strong performance at the UAE Tour represents a crucial opportunity to address this imbalance.
‘My second family is Arabic’
Evenepoel and his fellow contenders met with the press on Sunday at Al Hudayriyat Island, signaling their intent for the week ahead. The Belgian emphasized his commitment to success.
“One of my goals this year is to win more one-week WorldTour races and the UAE Tour is an opportunity to do so with a time trial and hilly stages,” he stated. “Usually the strongest guy here wins and that’s what we’re here for. It’s pretty special for me to be back here.”
Beyond the sporting ambition, Evenepoel’s connection to the region runs deeper. His wife, Oumii Rayane, has Moroccan roots and practices Islam, a connection that resonates with him personally.
“It’s something I got to know over the past year,” he shared in an Instagram post last April. “It’s something we share and we’re proud to be able to share it. It’s something each person has to do for themselves – or not. I can’t judge that. For me, it’s something to hold on to, something that helps me through life. It’s something beautiful, so it’s nice to be able to share it with Oumi. It’s really about Islam.”
He reiterated this sentiment on Sunday, linking his wife’s heritage to his enthusiasm for racing in the UAE. “As my second family is Arabic as well, the UAE Tour is a race I’d like to do every year when it fits into my program,” he said. “The season has started very well for me and I’ll try to make the most beautiful race as possible for the fans here too.”
Del Toro: ‘I feel the pressure a little bit’
While Evenepoel is the clear favorite, the UAE Tour field is far from lacking in competition. The withdrawal of Jonas Vingegaard due to a crash and illness has removed one significant challenger, but the race remains a complex and unpredictable affair.
Isaac Del Toro of UAE Emirates-XRG emerges as a key rival. The 22-year-old has already demonstrated considerable talent, and could have won the 2023 Giro d’Italia with different team tactics. He has secured 21 professional victories, establishing himself as a rising star in the sport.
Del Toro acknowledged the pressure of competing against a rider of Evenepoel’s caliber, but also expressed his own ambition. “I feel the pressure a little bit, but it’s because the UAE Tour is my first race this year,” he said. “I know it’s also the home race for my team. I did some tests in Mexico before coming and it was quite ok. It’s something big to have the confidence of the team for this race. I’m privileged to be in this position. Remco is the favorite for the palmares he has. I also hope to be one of the best riders this week.”
Lennert Van Eetvelt, the 2022 UAE Tour champion, also enters the race with aspirations for a strong performance. “It’s a great memory to have won the UAE Tour before and it’s always nice to be here again,” said the Lotto Intermarché rider. “The organizers have made the course harder this year, there can be echelons as well. It’s going to be a hard race but I’m looking forward to it.”
Three obvious opportunities
The UAE Tour begins Monday with a flat to undulating stage to Liwa Palace, likely ending in a bunch sprint. Stages 4 to Fujairah, 5 to Dubai, and 7 to Abu Dhabi also present opportunities for sprinters, though the vertical kilometers on stage 4 could disrupt the expected outcome.
The general classification contenders will be looking to make their mark on stage 2 with a flat time trial, and on the uphill finishes to Jebel Mobrah (stage 3) and Jebel Hafeet (stage 6).
Other riders to watch include Adam Yates (UAE Emirates-XRG), Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), Ben O’Connor (Team Jayco-AlUla), Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek), and Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team). Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) is the standout sprinter in the field.
Evenepoel, riding for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, recognizes the strength of his rivals, particularly Del Toro and Yates. “They are strong anyway, with not only Isaac del Toro but also Adam Yates, who did well in Oman,” he told Sporza. “On paper, it makes sense that it will be a battle with Isaac, but someone could always take the win, as Lennert Van Eetvelt has already done here. I don’t count anyone out.”
He intends to capitalize on the time trial stage. “In the time trial, there are few turns, and that can work in my favor,” he said. “I wish it were longer than 12 kilometers, but you have to make do with what you get. I will try to win that stage and gain time there.”
A successful UAE Tour campaign would not only add another WorldTour victory to Evenepoel’s palmarès but also solidify his position among the sport’s elite.
