As the 2025 men’s cycling season commences, much of the focus will inevitably be on Tadej Pogaฤar’s showings. His performances, both triumphs and potential defeats, will be closely observed. The UAE Team Emirates XRG faces the challenge of maintaining their impressive record from the previous year, drawing significant attention to their strategic approach throughout the season.
In 2024, UAE Team Emirates dominated the cycling world with 82 victories, leaving their nearest competitors, Lidl-Trek and Soudal-QuickStep, far behind with 42 wins each. Even when excluding Pogaฤar’s contribution of 25 victories, UAE still had a commanding lead. Moreover, their 20 different individual winners marked a first in four decades. This remarkable breadth of success underscores their comprehensive team strength.
Winning Formula and Team Growth
To maintain their winning streak, UAE has bolstered its roster with new talent. Key additions include Jhonatan Narvรกez, promising 19-year-old Pablo Torres, Florian Vermeersch, Rune Herregodts, and Julius Johansen. The departure of Marc Hirschi to Tudor Pro Cycling is noteworthy, but the team remains confident. Sports manager Joxean Fernรกndez Matxin, in conversation with Cyclingnews, states, “We know the Tour is much more important, but there are no small races for us.”
The team’s ethos is not to reserve effort solely for major races. Instead, every competition is treated as crucial, maintaining high motivation across all fronts. The strategy is clear: “Rather our mentality is to be competitive from start to finish, and not to give anything away to anybody.”
Motivation and the Road Ahead
Reflecting on past setbacks, Matxin notes that challenges can fuel determination. He draws parallels with Jonas Vingegaard’s experience in the 2024 Tour de France, recognising how such defeats can drive athletes to push harder. Pogaฤar’s own journey, marked by victories and losses, exemplifies this resilience. Matxin acknowledges, “So we know that Vingegaard will be going through a similar moment to the one that we experienced.”
Though challenges lie ahead, the UAE team is prepared. Matxin stresses, “We canโt sleep on our laurels, that we canโt take things for granted. Tadejโs won three Tours, now, but if you want to be in the fight and go for a fourth Tour then you have to deserve it.”
Adapting Strategies for Success
Pogaฤar’s focus remains broad, with Matxin opting for varied challenges to sustain his interest. While past champions like Indurain or Froome may have focused primarily on the Tour de France, Pogaฤar’s strategy involves diverse race participation. Matxin explains, “If you look at his calendar with him, the overriding aim is to keep him motivated, and stimulated.”
Experimentation is key. Pogaฤar’s choices include opting for races like Paris-Nice over Strade Bianche in certain years. The intention is clear: to maintain enthusiasm and avoid monotony. Looking ahead, while the UAE Tour is on the cards, Paris-Roubaix remains a possibility for the future.
Challenges and the Competitive Landscape
The path to another Tour de France victory is demanding. The route includes the Mont Ventoux and the Col de la Loze, where in previous years, Vingegaard has outperformed Pogaฤar. However, Matxin remains optimistic, asserting that past experiences will only enhance Pogaฤarโs drive to succeed.
While Vingegaard poses a formidable challenge, Visma-Lease a Bike also remains a significant force in the competition for top team honours in 2025. Reflecting on UAE’s strength, Matxin remarks, “Whatโs certain is that if we take away Tadej from UAEโs performance in 2024, even without him, weโd still have been the number one team in the world, with the most wins.”
