Tadej Pogacar heads UAE squad into 2026 Tour de France as favourite

Slovenian champion Tadej Pogacar enters the 2026 Tour de France as the overwhelming favourite, with UAE Team Emirates‑XRG highlighting his modest leadership style. Team manager Joxean Matxin noted that Pogacar “cooks, does the laundry and cares for his teammates,” fostering a family‑like atmosphere. American rider Brandon McNulty described the trust in Pogacar’s directives, saying that when the leader tells a domestique to chase, the stage is likely to be won. Despite a spring plagued by crashes and infections that sidelined several key riders, the squad retained stability and is set to start the race with a strong line‑up including Isaac del Toro, Tim Wellens and Nils Politt.

Rival Red Bull‑Bora‑Hansgrohe team manager Ralph Denk warned that beating Pogacar will be “terribly difficult,” even as Belgian star Remco Evenepoel and newcomer Florian Lipowitz aim to challenge him. The competition underscores the high stakes of this year’s Tour, with multiple national teams and top riders positioning themselves for podium spots.