Jonas Vingegaard spotted training in pouring rain as he is forced to scrap UAE Tour clash with Del Toro and Evenepoel

The Visma | Lease a Bike leader was set to go head-to-head with Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates–XRG) and Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe), but the Dutch team announced a change of plans on Friday via X: “A recent crash, followed by illness, means he will not take part.”

Vingegaard was still spotted training earlier this week on the Costa del Sol, in what looked like properly grim conditions and heavy rain. “I was really looking forward to returning to the UAE Tour, so I’m disappointed we’ve had to make this decision,” he said in the team statement.

Vingegaard crashed earlier this winter during a training ride, after an incident involving a fan who tried to ride along with him. Illness has now followed on from that setback. “That makes this choice necessary,” the statement continued. “It’s better to recover fully so I can focus on the next goals.”

While Vingegaard is in Spain trying to get his body back to full strength — and dealing with highly changeable weather conditions (something Wout van Aert has also faced at altitude in Sierra Nevada) — Del Toro appears to have opted for a far calmer and warmer build-up to the UAE Tour. Could that give the Mexican an early edge on his rivals?

Del Toro largely kept a low profile this winter, well away from Europe. After he became Mexican time trial and road race champion in October, he took a short break before resuming training back home.

Del Toro only travelled to Europe in December for his team’s annual training camp. After the usual obligations — media duties, photo shoots, equipment work and more — he quickly boarded a flight again.

Back in Mexico, the surprise runner-up from the 2025 Giro d’Italia is now putting the finishing touches on his preparation for his season debut. He is set to start on 16 February at the UAE Tour, where he will line up for the race for the first time. Last year, he opened his season in Spain.

From the other side of the Atlantic, Del Toro will be watching the preparations of his main UAE Tour rivals with interest. Remco Evenepoel has already been firing, taking three wins from three races on Mallorca and then winning again in the wind-hit individual time trial at the Tour of Valencia.

The Belgian’s form looks outstanding already, but he is also having to cope with harsh weather conditions in Valencia this week. It is a very different scenario to what riders normally experience at the UAE Tour in the Emirati desert.