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Tadej Pogačar has modified his early-season race programme and won’t defend his general victory on the UAE Tour this month, as a substitute choosing a much less intense season debut in Spain.
The 2-time Tour de France winner will make his season debut within the Clásica Jaén Paraíso Inside one-day race that features gravel sections on 13 February after which journey the Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia – Ruta del Sol between February 15-19.
“I’m excited for these races and to pin on a quantity once more and be with the group. I’ve been watching the primary races final weeks on the TV and having fun with it, but in addition wishing a bit to be there within the motion,” Pogačar mentioned when UAE Group Emirates introduced their plans.
“I had a little bit of gastroenteritis in January which wasn’t very nice however fortunately I’m over it and feeling wholesome. It’s good to expertise new races and I’m wanting ahead to what Jaen and Andalucia have in retailer for us. I can’t wait to start out racing once more.”
With the UAE Tour beginning on February 20, it’s unattainable for Pogačar to defend his 2022 victory within the Center East.
UAE Group Emirates new signing Adam Yates was named as one of many big-name riders of the UAE Tour by race organisers on Monday, alongside Remco Evenepoel, Sam Bennett and Caleb Ewan.
“For Tadej the plan this yr was to maintain the bottom of the calendar roughly the identical whereas making a couple of changes, which is what we’ve completed,” sports activities supervisor Joxean Fernandez Matxin steered.
“Tadej is a rider who likes to maintain issues contemporary and check out new issues so beginning the yr right here in Jaen and Andalucia made sense. The season can be lengthy so our concept is to construct up regularly to the largest targets.
“For Jaen and Andalucia now we have a extremely skilled group who we consider can do nice issues. We’re taking a roster with quite a lot of high quality which can be headed by Pogačar who will even make his season debut right here. Although now we have many riders within the group who can step-up for an enormous end result.”
Matxin lately defined to Cyclingnews that Pogcar’s season has been fastidiously deliberate out with a peak for the cobbled and Ardennes Classics and one other for the Tour de France, the place he’ll look to overturn his 2022 defeat by Jonas Vingegaard.
“The thought is to do a primary block of racing up till the Ardennes, then cease and construct up for the Tour. However no matter occurs, it’s in Tadej’s character and the group’s to be aggressive in each race he takes half in,” Matxin instructed Cyclingnews.
The UAE Tour stays a significant objective for UAE Group Emirates. They’re prone to choose a second group chief alongside Adam Yates, with Tour Down Below winner Jay Vine, Brandon McNulty, João Almeida, Juan Ayuso, Rafał Majka or Geroge Bennett.
“Have a look at the identify of the group. It’s our mini Tour de France,” Matxin mentioned. “However generally, our concept is to have one or two riders in high type for every race we do, regardless of the class.”
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