UAE Team Emirates-XRG launched its defence of the Tour de France 2026 title with a strong start on Tuesday evening, finishing third in the opening team time trial in a standout collective performance that boosted the squad's prospects early on, under the leadership of Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, winner of the last four editions of the race.
Pogačar and his Mexican teammate Isaac Del Toro benefited from the new team time trial regulations, which record the time of the fastest rider on each team, crossing the finish line first and second respectively, as the team completed the stage 12 seconds behind the winning team.
The stage saw Pogačar pull on the polka-dot jersey awarded to the best climber, after posting the fastest time on the final ascent, while maintaining a strong position in the general classification alongside Del Toro, who finished the stage inside the top 10.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG entered the stage as the last team to set off from the start ramp in Barcelona, successfully converting months of preparation into a competitive performance from the opening kilometres, thanks to the collective effort of Nils Politt, Felix Gall, Felix Großschartner, Adam Yates, Brandon McNulty, Tim Wellens, and Florian Vermeersch, before Del Toro and Pogačar took charge of the team in the final metres, capitalising on the revised race rules to achieve the best possible time.
Meanwhile, in Romania, UAE Team Emirates-XRG continued its impressive start as Danish rider Julius Johansen claimed victory in Stage 1B, the individual time trial of the Sibiu Cycling Tour, to seize the lead in the general classification and pull on the yellow jersey.
The team did not stop at the stage win, further asserting its dominance as Portuguese rider Ivo Oliveira finished second, completing a remarkable one-two in the time trial, after passing through the morning stage without difficulty before asserting control in the afternoon session.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG aims to sustain its strong results across the three remaining stages of the Sibiu Cycling Tour, with Johansen set to begin the next day's racing wearing the yellow leader's jersey.