UAE Emirates-XRG relies on team strength for Omloop: "That makes us one of the favorites"
Cycling
UAE-Emirates XRG has also finalized its selections for the Opening Weekend. Like last year, the participating riders will have every opportunity to show their skills in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Last season, this resulted in two second places, with Nils Politt and Tim Wellens, respectively.
Pogacar - who has never competed in the Opening Weekend - will again not be there on Saturday and Sunday. The Slovenian is enjoying a weekend off after winning the UAE Tour and will compete again next week in Strade Bianche. He is certainly not sitting still: on Tuesday, he posted a photo from Sanremo. Teammates Tim Wellens and Alessandro Covi were also present.
Read more below the photo!
UAE Emirates-XRG starts Omloop & Kuurne with ambition
Pogacar's teammates will have the opportunity to shine during the opening weekend, where they can prove their worth. Wellens did that last year in Kuurne, where he finished on the podium. "As a Belgian, this period of the season is always special for me, and I'm looking forward to it again," he said in a statement from his team.
"Our classic core is improving year after year, and I think we will be starting with a very strong team, which will make great things possible," continues the former Lotto rider, who has three new team members at his side. Florian Vermeersch, Rune Herregodts, and Jhonatan Narváez will start both races.
"That makes us one of the big favorites compared to recent years," Wellens expects. "We have started the season well, and the morale is high, so hopefully we can continue on that path. The weather also looks good for the coming weekend, so that's a nice bonus."
Read more below the photo!
Politt expects a strong UAE Emirates-XRG team
Nils Politt is about to start his tenth Opening Weekend. "There is always a special feeling when you go to Flanders. We have an outstanding team, and I think we can do equally well as last year when we finished on the podium twice. If you look at our selection, you see many names that could be in the final. And that makes a big difference if you want to fight for the podium."
Finally, Narváez, who already won the Tour Down Under in the past, also came close with an attack with Mathieu van der Poel in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. The Ecuadorian champion looks forward to his first European races for UAE Emirates-XRG. "If you can't enjoy the chaos of the classics, you're not enjoying cycling. You have to absorb that adrenaline as a cyclist."
Top talent Antonio Morgado will only be there on Saturday in the Omloop. His compatriot Rui Oliveira will replace him on Sunday in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
Selection UAE Emirates-XRG Omloop Het Nieuwsblad & Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2025
Tim Wellens
Rune Herregodts
Florian Vermeersch
Nils Politt
Mikkel Bjerg
Jhonatan Narváez
Antonio Morgado (Omloop Het Nieuwsblad)
Rui Oliveira (Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne)
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Latest Comments
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025 - If she thinks talent alone will put her there she will not see many podium finishes much less a GC finish.....work as a team utilizing tactics to consistently be at the top.Germanrazor10-01-2025
- This was very informative! Luiz Antonio Duarte Ferreiraluizantonioduarteferreira02-01-2025
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024