UAE Team Emirates head for Algarve & Andalucia

Volta ao Algarve (2.Pro)

UAE Team Emirates have announced their squad to take on the Volta ao Algarve from 19 – 23 February.

As reigning champions the Emirati team will be hoping to repeat the success of 2019 by Tadej Pogačar and go into the race with several options.

The 2020 race features a summit finish on the Alto da Fóia on stage 2, an uphill finale at Malhão on stage 4 and a 20.3km time trial in Lagoa on the concluding stage.

Rui Costa will aim to continue his good form which saw him win a stage and wear the leaders jersey at the Saudi Tour, and impress on home soil. Alexander Kristoff will be looking to dispute victory in the sprints while Mikkel Bjerg will hope to put in a good performance on the final TT.

Sports Directors Simone Pedrazzini (Swi), Bruno Vicino (Ita) and technical assistant Manuele Mori (Ita) will lead the following 7 riders:

-Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
-Tom Bohli (Swi)
-Alexander Kristoff (Nor)
-Joe Dombrowski (USA)
-Rui Costa (Por)
-Ivo Oliveira (Por)
-Jan Polanc (Slo)

Rui Costa :

“Volta Algarve is special because it’s the only race in the year where I can enjoy racing in Portugal. I haven’t raced in Algarve since 2014 but it’s always a very hard race. The first stage will be for Kristoff and the sprinters but the second day will finish on a climb that will affect the GC. We will go there for a short training camp before to recon this and other important stages. I think the overall may come down to the final time trial. I’m in good form at the moment and I’ll hope to capitalise on that and give all my supporters at home something to cheer about.”

Vuelta Andalucia (2.Pro)

UAE Team Emirates continue their racing calendar on the Iberian peninsula with the Vuelta a Andalucia which also runs from 19-23 February.

 
The team will look to the experienced David de la Cruz, who won a stage on his last appearance in Andalucia in 2018 and will aim to repeat his success. Brandon McNulty, who comes to the race after placing 4th overall at the recent Vuelta San Juan in Argentina, will also look to do a good ride in the time trial on the final day.

The team will be lead by sports directors Andrej Hauptman (Slo) and Aurelio Corral (Spa).

-Alessandro Covi (Ita)
-Brandon McNulty (USA)
-Valerio Conti (Ita)
-David de la Cruz (Spa)
-Yousif Mirza (UAE)
-Edward Ravasi (Ita)
-Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)

David de la Cruz : “I’m really excited to race the Vuelta Andalucia. It is always a hard race and having seen the route, it won’t be any different this year. Stage one and four stand out as the days which will count most for the GC and then the final time trial also will be key. On a personal level I feel good with a little bit of nervousness which I guess is normal at this time of year during the first races when riders are finding their form. In Vuelta Valenciana I got to blow off the cobwebs and got the hard racing miles that I needed and I expect to be more competitive in Andalucia. It’s a race I have special memories with since my win there in 2018.”