Good news for UAE Emirates-XRG as top talent returns at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

UAE Emirates-XRG has announced its line-up for the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, which begins on Sunday. The team from the Emirates will naturally do so without Tadej Pogacar, who will ride the Tour of Switzerland, but with returning João Almeida and Isaac del Toro.

For both Almeida and Del Toro, it marks a return to competition. Almeida had not been feeling fully fit for a while and therefore skipped the Giro d’Italia, while Del Toro had to rule out the Ardennes Classics after crashing in the Tour of the Basque Country.

The Mexican is already looking forward to it, as he revealed through his team’s channels. “I am looking forward to the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It is my first time in this race and I hope it is the start of a great cycling summer in France for me. Training has been going well and everything is heading in the right direction.”

“Given that a large part of the peloton is preparing for the Tour, the level of the race will undoubtedly be high, but I think we are ready for it,” Del Toro said, with the likes of Paul Seixas, Juan Ayuso and Matteo Jorgenson waiting for him. Del Toro therefore still has a few question marks around him. “It has been a while since I last raced and I am excited to pin on a race number again.”

Alongside Almeida and Del Toro, Pablo Torres also returns in the French WorldTour race. The Spanish talent had been dealing with a knee problem and underwent surgery in March.

Along with the names already mentioned, in-form Benoît Cosnefroy, Pavel Sivakov, Ivo Oliveira and Kevin Vermaerke will also start the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes for UAE Emirates-XRG.