'Ready to race aggressively' - Del Toro hungry to shine against Evenepoel at UAE Tour

UAE Team Emirates-XRG have confirmed their line-up for the 2026 UAE Tour, with Mexican star Isaac del Toro spearheading the Emirati squad in his first race of the year after a stellar 2025 season.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG have enjoyed plenty of success in recent years at their home race, with Tadej Pogačar winning the GC in 2021, 2022 and 2025. 

The world champion won’t be present in 2026 to defend the red jersey, but the team will be hoping that Del Toro can step up to the challenge in his debut at the race against Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), who has made an impressive start to 2026 with six victories in eight race days.

“I’m really excited to line up for my first UAE Tour. It’s a special race for me, not only because it’s my debut, but because it’s a home race for the team, and you really feel that sense of pride and responsibility,” said Del Toro in a statement from the team. 

Del Toro was one of the stars of 2025, taking 18 victories and finishing second overall at the Giro d’Italia, having surrendered the race lead on the penultimate stage to Simon Yates. A win on stage 17 in the pink jersey was the sole victory at the WorldTour level for Del Toro in 2025, who will also be aiming to win a WorldTour GC event for the first time in his career. 

The 2026 route features an individual time trial on stage 2, and a brand-new summit finish to Jebel Mobrah on stage 3, and the all-important ascent to Jebel Hafeet on stage 6, whilst crosswinds also threaten to shake up the GC standings at any time, in the battle for the race leader’s red jersey. 

“I’ve spent some time reconning some of the main stages, getting familiar with the roads and the key moments, and that’s given me a lot of confidence,” said Del Toro. “The level here will be very high, with some of the best riders in the world on the start line, but we’ve prepared really well as a group, and we’re ready to give our best and race aggressively.”

Del Toro will lead the squad alongside Adam Yates, who finished third overall at the Tour of Oman on Wednesday. Yates is a former winner of the race, having taken victory in 2020. Juan Sebastián Molano will give the team a presence in the sprints and is in good form following a stage win in Oman. 

“I hope for a good performance, but we also have the class and experience of someone like Yates and then Molano for the sprints, so we have lots of options,” Del Toro said.

Meanwhile, Rune Herregodts, Nils Politt, Kevin Vermaerke, and Florian Vermeersch round out a very strong UAE squad for their home race, which kicks off on Feb 16.