Preview: UAE Tour
An open race in the absence of its defining figure
The WorldTour remains in the Middle East next week with the UAE Tour — a race that, despite its short history, has already developed clear statistical contours.
At the time of writing, the start list is not yet complete. Changes may follow. But one certainty already shapes the narrative: Tadej Pogačar will not defend his title.
And that changes everything.
A Vacancy at the Top
Pogačar is the only rider to have won the UAE Tour more than once. In fact, he has won it three times — a structural dominance in a race that has otherwise rotated winners.
Most Overall Wins
🇸🇮 Tadej Pogačar — 3 (2021, 2022, 2025)
…
🇧🇪 Lennert Van Eetvelt — 1 (2024)
🇧🇪 Remco Evenepoel — 1 (2023)
🇬🇧 Adam Yates — 1 (2020)
🇸🇮 Primož Roglič — 1 (2019)
Three former winners are provisionally scheduled to start: Van Eetvelt, Evenepoel and Yates.
Without Pogačar, the UAE Tour becomes something it rarely is: structurally open.
Podium Consistency — Yates and the Fifth Step
If victory has been scarce, podium consistency has been even scarcer.
