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Follow us on GoogleUAE Team Emirates-XRG will compete in the Tour of Lombardy without defending champion Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian ended his season after a serious crash in the Vuelta a España, so the pressure will now fall on Isaac Del Toro and world champion Brandon McNulty.
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Pogačar has dominated in the race of the falling leaves
In his debut at the Tour of Lombardy, Pogacar immediately proved to be the best. In 2021, he won his second Monument ever—and his first Lombardia. In northern Italy, he has proved unbeatable.
The Slovenian won no fewer than five times in a row, tying Fausto Coppi’s record for the most victories in Lombardy.
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Because of his crash, he won’t (yet) become the sole record holder this year. UAE Team Emirates-XRG is therefore focusing primarily on two riders.
Two leaders for UAE team, still looking for win
Del Toro and McNulty will lead the team in Italy, and they’re in good form. For the 22-year-old Mexican, this is his first race since finishing fifth at the World Championships, while the world champion has already placed second in the Coppa Agostoni.
And so the team heads to Il Lombardia with the goal of winning as a team for the sixth consecutive year. “We’re heading to Lombardia as the defending champions, and we have a clear goal in mind: to retain that title,” Del Toro says on the team’s website. “The team is very strong, and we have a great chance of winning.”
Read more below the photo!
UAE face tough group of opponents; rematch between Evenepoel and Ciccone
With two key riders, the Mexican champion won’t have to carry the entire burden himself, although he does appear to be one of the top favourites to win in Como.
“Brandon is in top form right now, and I’m in good shape myself. The key is to stay with the large field for as long as possible and then play our cards right on the road.”
UAE Team Emirates-XRG will head to the start line in Bergamo with a strong team. In addition to Del Toro and McNulty, the team can count on Jan Christen, Felix Grossschartner, Pavel Sivakov, Adam Yates, and Domen Novak.
“We have a good atmosphere within the group and understand each other well, so that gives us a strong starting position right from the beginning. The rest depends on our opponents,” Del Toro concludes.
There are plenty of contenders at the start of the Tour of Lombardy. European champion Remco Evenepoel is one of the top favourites, as is Paul Seixas. Also competing are Giulio Ciccone, Quinn Simmons, Enric Mas, Tom Pidcock, Davide Piganzoli, and Matteo Jorgenson.
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Clarice WebsterEditor
Clarice has been following cycling her whole life, wroting about Thibaut Pinot (among others) for her university magazine while earning her masters in Journalism. She is passionate about furthering equality in sports coverage, and has taken huge inspiration from pillars of women’s cycling like Beryl Burton, Marianne Vos, and Laura Kenny.
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Latest Comments
- - ¡Qué ilusión para el ciclismo español! If Noval can combine climbing, time trialling and that mental strength, Spain may have another superstar on its hands.davidm08-10-2026
- - I’m still learning the sport—how can someone be the second-youngest WorldTour pro ever if his contract starts in 2027? Does that record depend on his exact birthday and debut date?pedalpowe2908-10-2026
- - “Once-in-a-generation talent” is a huge claim. What power numbers did Noval actually produce in Asturias, and how do they compare with riders of the same age?jeremya08-10-2026
- - The Contador comparisons are exciting, but also a bit premature. Time-trial ability is a major advantage, though the jump from juniors to the WorldTour can be brutal. Hopefully INEOS gives him time to develop rather than expecting instant results.patriciaw08-10-2026
- - Noval’s junior season has been absolutely ridiculous. Winning both world titles and the European time trial title suggests he isn’t just a climber—his versatility could be what separates him from the other big prospects.gearguru3308-10-2026
- Great drama, but the article leans a little too hard into the “what if” angle. Evenepoel still had to recover from a crash and finish the job—credit where it’s due.robert6507-10-2026
- What exactly is a pacer in this situation, and why was Ciccone listening to that information instead of just watching the race? I’m still learning the tactics, but it seems like Scaroni being behind changed everything.andrewf07-10-2026
- The photo finish sounds far too vulnerable to tiny setup errors. If the line is curved and the camera alignment is even slightly off, can we really call a one-pixel victory completely definitive?jennifer1907-10-2026
- Ciccone’s final turn was excellent, but I agree with Zonneveld that he probably worked too much before the finish. With Scaroni behind, sitting on Remco’s wheel would have been the smarter gamble.bikebuffj07-10-2026
- Evenepoel showed serious resilience after that crash. Coming back, attacking on the descent and still winning the sprint is a proper champion’s performance.cadencekingm07-10-2026
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