UAE Team Emirates set sights on historic triple crown in Vuelta a España | Partners | Belarus News | Belarusian news | Belarus today | news in Belarus | Minsk news | BELTA
ABU DHABI, 16 August (BelTA — Emirates News Agency) — UAE Team Emirates
head into the Vuelta a Espana with one thing on their mind: «History».
Hungry for more Grand Tour success, UAE Team Emirates have set their
sights on becoming only the second team in cycling history to win the
Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a Espana in the same season.
Adam
Yates and Joao Almeida headline a powerful UAE Team Emirates line up,
with both riders coming into the race on the back of stellar showings at
the Tour de France.
“La Vuelta”, is set for its 79th edition and
promises be a stern test with its mountainous profiles. Kicking off
from Lisbon, Portugal, the race will push the riders to their limits
across the three weeks. It is a challenge that UAE Team Emirates will
relish, with Joao Almeida looking to build on his top 10 finish in 2023,
while Adam Yates returns to the Vuelta for the first time since 2021,
where he secured an impressive 4th place.
UAE Team Emirates are
no strangers to the brutality of Grand Tour racing with some of the
team’s most memorable performances coming from these gruelling, historic
races. Adam Yates boasts an impressive Grand Tour palmares, featuring a
Tour de France podium and six top 10 finishes. He will be joined by a
man in form and home favourite on the start line in Lisbon – Joao
Almeida. The Portuguese talent will be looking to build on his combative
4th place finish in the Tour de France and go one better in the Vuelta.
The duo will be supported by a formidable line-up, including Grand Tour
debutant Isaac Del Toro, who has made a notable impact in his first
season with the Emirati team. Adding further strength to the team will
be Marc Soler and Brandon McNulty, who will provide valuable support for
Yates an Almeida in their quest for success.
Adam Yates said,
“I’m extremely excited for the Vuelta. Of course, it will be difficult,
but the course looks like it is suited to my riding style. We have a
really strong team, and we want to make history! I’m very proud of the
team’s performances so far this season. From classic success to the
Giro-Tour double it’s been one to remember and our hard work is paying
off.”
UAE Team Emirates will face stiff competition in Spain, led
by defending champion Sepp Kuss, who will be looking to return to top
form following his recent injury and defend his title. Team Visma
Lease-a-Bike boast a strong roster, featuring superstar Wout van Aert
and exciting youngster Cian Uijtdebroeks.
Spaniard Mikel Landa of
Soudal Quick-Step will be a fan favourite at the Vuelta and will aspire
to have a big say on the outcome of the race. Fresh from an extremely
strong performance at the Tour de France, finishing 5th in the General
Classification, Landa will be looking to improve on his Top 5 finish
from last year’s race.
The race itself will see the riders
compete over 21 stages, totalling 3,265km of racing. The peloton will
start in Lisbon, Portugal for the Grand Partida with the action coming
thick and fast from the outset. Stage 1 features a ferocious Time Trial
before the riders are thrown straight into the hilly stages which will
be more suited to the puncheurs. The race will be decided in the final
two weeks, with 9 mountainous stages setting the stage for the best
General Classification riders to battle it out for the prestigious
Maillot Rojo.
In what has been a record-breaking season for the
team, Adam Yates and Joao Almeida will be looking to complete a
monumental Grand Tour sweep and etch UAE Team Emirates’ name further
into the history books.
