Emirati squad looking for first European win of the year
Monday 6 February, 2023
UAE Team Emirates continue to ramp-up their season with two Spanish races: Clásica Jaén Paraíso Interior on 13 February followed up closely by the Vuelta Andalucia from 15-19 February.
Tadej Pogačar will begin his 2023 campaign, with the two-time Tour de France champion lining-up for both races for the first time in his young career.
The team will count on a wealth of experience and talent for the gravel roads of Jaen Paraiso in a squad well suited to the terrain.
Clásica Jaén Paraíso Interior [1.1] – 13-Feb-2023
Sjoerd Bax (Ned)
Alessandro Covi (Ita)
Marc Hirschi (Swi)
Domen Novak (Slo)
Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
Matteo Trentin (Ita)
Tim Wellens (Bel)
Pogačar: “I’m excited for these races and to pin on a number again and be with the team. I’ve been watching the first races last weeks on the TV and enjoying it, but also wishing a bit to be there in the action.
The preparation has been good. I had a bit of gastroenteritis in January which wasn’t very pleasant but thankfully I’m over it and feeling healthy.
It’s nice to experience new races and I’m looking forward to what Jaen and Andalucia have in store for us. I can’t wait to start racing again.”
Sports Manager Joxean Matxin Fernandez (Spa) will lead the team in Jaen, being joined by Sports Directors Andrej Hauptman (Slo) and Manuele Mori (Ita) who will also continue for Andalucia.
Joxean Matxin Fernandez (Sports Manager) :
“For Jaen and Andalucia we have a highly experienced team who we believe can do great things.
Obviously the gravel aspect of Jaen makes it a good place for us to test material and bikes, so it’s a race that offers a lot. But of course, like any race we do we are also there to target victory.
We are taking a roster with a lot of quality which will be headed by Pogačar who will also make his season debut here. Though we have many riders in the team who can step-up for a big result.
For Tadej the plan this year was to keep the base of the calendar more or less the same while making a few adjustments, which is what we’ve done. Tadej is a rider who likes to keep things fresh and try new things so starting the year here in Jaen and Andalucia made sense. The season will be long so our idea is to build up gradually to the biggest targets.”
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol [2.Pro] – 15-Feb-2023 / 19-Feb-2023
Sjoerd Bax (Ned)
George Bennett (NZ)
Alessandro Covi (Ita)
Rafal Majka (Pol)
Domen Novak (Slo)
Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
Tim Wellens (Bel)
