UAE Team Emirates have introduced their Tour de France squad to help Tadej Pogačar because the two-time winner takes purpose on the second a part of the Giro-Tour double, with no shock alternatives among the many seven-man crew set to again the Slovenian star.
The crew will be capable to boast the strongest climbing squad on the race when the Tour de France kicks off in Tuscany on June 29, with 2023 podium finisher Adam Yates and one other podium candidate Juan Ayuso each a part of the line-up.
Yates, who just lately received the Tour de Suisse, and Tour de France debutant Ayuso, who received Itzulia Basque Country within the spring, can be joined by Tour de Suisse runner-up João Almeida, like Ayuso racing within the Tour de France for the primary time.
Yet extra climbing help for Pogacar can be current within the form of Pavel Sivakov, a brand new recruit from Ineos Grenadiers for 2024.
The crew is rounded out with Spanish domestique Marc Soler, Belgian puncheur Tim Wellens, and a person for the flat in German Classics specialist Nils Politt.
Pogačar, who was final in motion in May when he dominated the Giro d’Italia with six stage wins and a profitable margin of 9:56, stated that he is “actually excited” to return to the Tour, including that preparation for the race has gone effectively.
“It’s already my fifth time coming to the Tour, and I’m actually enthusiastic about it,” he stated. “We’ve labored actually arduous all 12 months as a crew to organize for this and we hope we can provide everybody watching three weeks of thrilling racing.
“It’s good additionally to be going again to Italy once more to start out the Tour. Obviously, I’m coming from there with good reminiscences of the Giro and fortunately I can say that preparation has gone very effectively since then. I took a little bit of a break after the Giro after which the previous weeks have been totally focussed on the Tour.
“We’ve spent a whole lot of time collectively as a gaggle coaching at altitude and put in a whole lot of hours within the saddle. We’re in a very good place as a gaggle and I feel now we simply cannot wait to get began and hope to combat for the win and placed on a very good present.”
Yates stated the crew is in a “actually good place” as a gaggle, whereas Almeida hailed the crew’s efficiency in Switzerland as a “confidence booster”. Ayuso, in the meantime, stated that he’ll try to “soak all of it in as a lot as attainable” whereas staying dedicated to helping Pogačar in his quest for one more Tour victory.
“I’ve dreamed of being on the Tour de France since I used to be a child so to be right here about to start out my first Tour feels wonderful,” Ayuso stated.
“It’s a privilege to be a part of a race like this in a crew like this so I’ll try to soak all of it in as a lot as attainable, however now we have an enormous goal additionally, and that’s to win.
“We’re coming from a very good block of coaching at Isola and the group is absolutely united and motivated so we will hope for good issues over the subsequent three weeks.”
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