Tim Wellens is one of the most experienced riders in the peloton and his UAE Emirates team has once again been the squad with the most victories this year. At 34, Wellens still feels the same excitement when pinning a race number on his Belgian champion jersey and at the end of 2025, he considers himself satisfied with his achievements: the Belgian national championship title and a stage win on the fifteenth stage of the Tour de France, bringing his career victories to 41. The Flemish rider will soon start his vacation, spending a few days in Bali, and before leaving, he wanted to reflect and talk about the most difficult moments at the Tour, when Pogacar, due to a knee problem, had even considered withdrawing.

"This is definitely the year when I achieved my two greatest victories: the Belgian national championship title and the stage win at the Tour de France," Wellens said at the Saitama Criterium. "The national champion jersey is one of the most beautiful to wear for an entire year. For my Tour de France success, I was surprised by its resonance even with an audience not necessarily interested in cycling. I know the Tour is the most important race in the world, but I didn't think it would have such a strong impact. If I had to choose between ten stages at the Giro d'Italia or one at the Tour de France, I would definitely choose the latter. Even when I enter a cheese shop now, everyone recognizes me."

In 2026, UAE Emirates wants to confirm itself as the strongest World Tour team, thanks to Tadej Pogacar, but also with younger riders like Isaac Del Toro and other young talents, and Wellens also wants to achieve something at a point in his career when results are being tallied.

"My two priorities will be the Belgian Classics and the Tour. If the team asked me whether I prefer to race the Flemish or Walloon Classics, I would choose the Ardennes Classics because they are much less stressful. You don't have to fight for position at every turn; you just need legs to get a result. It's mentally exhausting, but I also know I don't have the ability to compete for a win or podium in the Walloon Classics, and since I also enjoy racing well and getting good results, if I could win a Classic, it would be fantastic, and it would be nice if Tadej was there too, because when he's in the race, everything becomes easier for us."

Wellens and Pogacar are two closely united riders, and we've often seen the Belgian at the front of the group just before a Slovenian attack. The Tour we see on television doesn't always show what really happens in the peloton, and some things remain hidden among the riders, like Pogacar's knee problem during the Tour.

"Tadej recently mentioned in a podcast the knee pain that hindered him during the Tour, and I can say it was serious. During the seventeenth stage, towards Valence, he came to see me at one point because he had severe pain. He even had to go to the medical car. In the evening, he wasn't feeling well, and the staff decided to take him to the hospital for an MRI. Since it was a public hospital, I was convinced the visit would leak and become public knowledge, but fortunately, no one discovered it. The doctors found an issue during the MRI, and he suffered a lot towards the end of the Tour. In the team, we were very worried and thought he would abandon the race. His body was no longer functioning as it should, and this was evident: his legs were swollen and full of fluid. He had even gained weight because of this. It was a relief to reach Paris."

UAE Emirates is a very strong team, certainly the strongest at the moment, and the riders know this, and this strength makes them less stressed during races.

"I don't realize how others see us, perhaps because I'm also a UAE rider. I perceive confidence in our abilities, especially during briefings. In Montreal, for example, we had planned a very aggressive race to quickly decide the outcome, and that's what happened with McNulty and Pogacar's one-two. Sometimes we tell each other, without shouting too much, that we're the best and there's no reason to stress. So, we can say we're putting into practice what we say. But I hope other riders don't consider it too arrogant. I understand that our dominance can be tiring, but I haven't yet perceived any animosity. What sometimes strikes me is that I feel some think they've already lost before the race even starts because, in their eyes, we have the best bike, the best helmet, and so on. But I believe above all that the quality of the riders makes the difference."

Pogacar is the greatest rider and is often compared to Eddy Merckx, but in his UAE Emirates, many young talents are emerging who could soon come close to the Slovenian's level. Among these is Isaac Del Toro, who many already consider Pogacar's heir.

"Isaac is very intelligent, but also very mature. He's only 21 but looks 30. Being forced to adapt alone in Europe after arriving from Mexico makes you mature. He's really very professional and has an excellent attitude with his teammates. After his second place at the Giro, even though the pink jersey slipped away at the end, he made a great gift to all the guys because he knows he needs everyone to win a grand tour. He's not yet earning a fortune, and the fact that he wanted to spend money to give a gift to everyone makes his gesture even more important. At his age, I don't think I would have shown the same gratitude towards others. He's strong, and you'll see him win more and more."

Pogacar also likes to give gifts to his teammates, but he's not only generous but also original, like that time after winning the Tour when he decided to surprise the entire team with something truly unique.

"Thanks to Pogacar's victories, we get important bonuses, but when he wants to impress us, he enjoys giving us really original gifts. One year, before I joined the team, he gave everyone a yellow Vespa."

Wellens has recently renewed his contract with UAE Emirates and will race until 2027, although he doesn't hide his desire to race until 2030, the year Pogacar's contract expires.

"I'm still able to train in the rain and take certain risks in races; this is my motivation barometer. I don't feel exhausted and would like to continue until 2029 or 2030. Tadej also still loves what he does, and I think he'll race for many more years."