Derek Gee-West joins the Evenepoel and Del Toro show at the UAE Tour

Gee-West will replace Giulio Ciccone, who is currently ill, according to information from Ciro Scognamiglio of La Gazzetta dello Sport. The report was also confirmed to Domestique. The Canadian national champion was originally due to make his Lidl-Trek debut at the Volta ao Algarve, which starts on February 18.

Ciccone finished second overall at the 2025 UAE Tour, 1:14 behind Tadej Pogacar. It remains unclear how his programme will be reshaped, but his next confirmed start is the Amstel Gold Race in April.

For Gee-West, this will be his first race since winning the Canadian national championships in June 2025, shortly before leaving Israel-Premier Tech.

He last raced the UAE Tour in 2023, his neo-pro season, where he spent most stages in the thick of the peloton.

The 28-year-old now steps into what could be a lively general classification battle. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull) has started the 2026 season in sharp form, collecting wins early, while Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is set to lead the home team on home roads. 

For Gee-West, the UAE Tour offers an early benchmark against elite GC company, ahead of his Giro d’Italia ambitions.

Recently, Gee-West sounded confident his new team can deliver the support he needs.

"The resources and expertise here are immense. It's hard to say what the differences will be. The goal of being in a team like this can only be to aim for the podium,” said Gee-West to bici.pro. 

“I hope it will help me take another step forward. I joined this team basically because they are incredibly ambitious. Analysing the offers I received, I couldn't see any downside to this one.”