'Tadej watched the Giro and saw how good Jonas Vingegaard was' - UAE Team Emirates-XRG 'ready to race hard' in Tour de France

UAE Team Emirates-XRG is gearing up for a fierce contest against Jonas Vingegaard and his Visma-Lease a Bike squad at the upcoming Tour de France. Manager Mauro Gianetti revealed that Tadej Pogačar and the team’s performance staff closely analysed Vingegaard’s impressive Giro d’Italia victory as part of their preparation. While Vingegaard was competing in Italy, Pogačar undertook three weeks of altitude training in Spain and is set to race the Tour de Suisse before the Tour de France begins in Barcelona on 4 July. Gianetti acknowledged Vingegaard’s formidable form and praised his decision to target the Giro, which culminated in a well-deserved triumph. Despite keeping a watchful eye on their rival, the UAE team remains focused on their own training and strategy, emphasising the need to be ready to race hard and let the road ultimately decide the outcome. The manager’s sportsmanship was evident as he congratulated Vingegaard on the podium, recognising the Dane’s status as a top rider. The Giro proved challenging for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who were hampered by injuries and crashes that prevented them from mounting a serious challenge against Vingegaard’s team. João Almeida, originally slated as their leader for the Giro, was forced to withdraw due to illness, while Adam Yates and Jay Vine also suffered crashes early in the race. These setbacks forced the team to recalibrate their goals, with Jhonatan Narváez stepping up to claim three stage wins through aggressive and opportunistic racing. Despite the misfortunes, Gianetti expressed satisfaction with how the team adapted and fought back during the Giro, highlighting the resilience shown by riders like Narváez and Igor Arrieta. Looking ahead, Almeida is expected to return for the Tour Auvergne-Rhône Alpes but may not be fully fit for the UAE Tour squad. With the Tour de France looming, UAE Team Emirates-XRG is determined to bring their best performance and challenge Vingegaard’s dominance on cycling’s biggest stage.