Tadej Pogacar already knows who will join him at the 2026 Tour de France

At UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s media day in Benidorm on Saturday, the team confirmed how leadership will be split across the Grand Tours. As expected, Pogačar will target a fifth Tour de France victory, which would draw him level with five-time winners Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain, following the removal of Lance Armstrong’s seven Tour titles. 

After serving as Pogačar’s trusted lieutenant in the past two Tours, João Almeida will take on a different role in 2026. The Portuguese rider is set to step away from Tour support duties in July and instead lead UAE Team Emirates XRG’s ambitions at the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España.

It was already confirmed on Saturday who will take over Almeida’s role at La Grande Boucle: 22-year-old Mexican super talent Isaac del Toro. After his surprise second place at the 2025 Giro d’Italia and a standout season in general with 16 wins, he looks more than capable of stepping into the role. It was the second highest win tally at the team behind Pogačar, and he added two Mexican national titles in October.

Beyond helping Pogačar chase another Tour victory, Del Toro’s selection is also a deliberate step in his development. As he put it: “The idea, when I’m with him, is to learn as much as I can from him. That’s good for me. I can learn from him in these races for the future.”

Wielerflits reported that UAE is planning to stick largely with a proven, winning formula for the Grand Départ in Barcelona. That would see Pogačar backed in the mountains by Isaac del Toro, Adam Yates, Pavel Sivakov, Marc Soler, and Jhonatan Narváez, while the all-around strength of Tim Wellens and Nils Politt gives the Slovenian cover everywhere else when it matters.

Speaking to UAE Team Emirates XRG sports manager Joxean Matxin Fernández, however, a different picture emerged, with the Spaniard indicating that American rider Brandon McNulty is set to be part of the team’s Tour de France squad. “The programme of Brandon McNulty this year is mainly the Tour de France,” Matxin told Domestique and Daniel Benson at UAE Team Emirates XRG’s media day in Benidorm over the weekend.

Adam Yates, Tim Wellens, Pavel Sivakov and Nils Politt are also expected to be included in the Tour squad next to Pogačar and Del Toro which would leave one spot open for now.

UAE’s Giro d’Italia line-up also appears to be largely settled according to Rúben Silva, without official confirmation. As announced, João Almeida will lead the team, supported by Adam Yates, who is set to double up with the Giro and the Tour, along with Jay Vine, Igor Arrieta, António Morgado, Jan Christen, Florian Vermeersch, and an eighth rider still to be confirmed.