With 6 victories in 8 race days, Remco Evenepoel arrives at the UAE Tour 2026 (February 16-22) as the overwhelming favorite. However, compared to Mallorca and Valencia, the competition will be different, and so will the course, with the mountain finishes at Jebel Mobrah and Jebel Hafeet promising to be an interesting and challenging test.

Moreover, the Belgian superstar from Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, who has already won the race in 2023, will be racing on the "enemy's" home turf, as UAE Team Emirates-XRG, as usual, is strongly focused on their home race. In the last 5 years, the Emiratis have won it 3 times, but always with Tadej Pogačar, remaining winless when the Slovenian was absent. This year, the captain's role falls to Isaac Del Toro, making his seasonal debut after a stellar 2025 with 18 victories, and ready to challenge Evenepoel on the slopes of Jebel Mobrah and Jebel Hafeet. Alongside him will be Adam Yates, winner in 2020 and second in 2021 and 2022, searching for some signs of improvement after a not particularly impressive Tour of Oman.

At the start line is another former winner, Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Intermarchè), who in 2025 was plagued by crashes and injuries and is eager to rediscover his best self. Derek Gee-West has also had an unusual season, not racing since June due to issues with his former team Israel, and is now ready to begin his approach to the Giro d'Italia in the Lidl-Trek jersey. Giro Rosa goal is also for Ben O'Connor (Jayco AlUla), 2nd in 2024 right behind Van Eetvelt but not particularly brilliant in the first Australian races, and Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM), making his seasonal debut after a good 2025 with a 5th place at the Tour de France and 8th at the Vuelta a España. The Australian can also count on the support of his teammate Luke Plapp, who first revealed himself to the world here in 2023, being beaten only by Evenepoel.

Unlike others, Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) does not have the Giro on his mind. However, he started the year with the right attitude, placing 3rd at the Classica Camp de Morvedre and 4th at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. Between the time trial and two mountain finishes, supported by the experience of Damiano Caruso, he will have the opportunity to understand exactly where he stands in his growth path, especially compared to top-tier rivals.

For the general classification, keep an eye on Michael Storer (Tudor), never easy to beat when he's in top form, Ilan Van Wilder and Junior Lecerf (Soudal-QuickStep), Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), the young duo Jørgen Nordaghen and Ben Tulett (Visma | Lease a Bike), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ United) and Harold Tejada (XDS Astana).

For the sprints, all eyes will be on Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), twice victorious at the AlUla Tour, who will have to contend with Matteo Malucelli (XDS Astana), who beat him in the last Arabian stage, as well as Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), the increasingly enigmatic Fabio Jakobsen (Picnic PostNL), Sam Welsford (Ineos Grenadiers), who won a stage at the Tour Down Under, Alberto Dainese (Soudal-QuickStep), Steffen De Schuyteneer (Lotto-Intermarchè), Erlend Blikra (Uno-X Mobility), brilliant and victorious in Oman, Gerben Thijssen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Daniel Skerl (Bahrain Victorious), who looked comfortable in AlUla.

Great anticipation also for the time trial challenge, with Evenepoel primarily facing Joshua Tarling (Ineos Genadiers), but also watch out for Ethan Hayter (Soudal-QuickStep), Stefan Bissegger and Daan Hoole (Decathlon CMA CGM).