UAE Team Emirates head for Ardennes Classics

UAE Team Emirates continue their spring racing campaign with two important World Tour races scheduled, starting with the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday (20 April) followed by the oldest Monument of the calendar known as ‘Le Doyenne’ , Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday (24 April).

The team will wear the number 1 jersey in their ranks with Tadej Pogačar the reigning champion from 2021 leading the squad.

The team will also look to the good form of former Flèche Wallonne winner Marc Hirschi and the experience of veteran riders like Diego Ulissi.

 
Pogačar : “ We’re coming back to the Ardennes with great memories from last year. It’s a period I look back on with great fondness. To take the win in Liege was like a dream and I feel a nice connection with this race.

Since the Tour of Flanders the next day I went to test the pavé sectors for the Tour de France which was an exciting experience. They are quite hard but it’s good to have an idea of what to expect before the Tour.

Then I had a couple of days break. Since UAE Tour I raced quite a lot so it was nice to get back home and train normally, it’s a part of the job I enjoy so to have a bit of a routine was nice.

For these Ardennes races we have a very dynamic team. The form is good and I think I can do well but on a whole the team is very strong and we’ll have options which is always an advantage.”

 
Sports Directors Andrej Hauptman (Slo) and Aart Vierhouten (Ned) will take charge of the team for both races.

 
La Flèche Wallonne [1.UWT] – 20-Apr-2022

Juan Ayuso (Spa)
Marc Hirschi (Swi)
Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
Jan Polanc (Slo)
Marc Soler (Spa)
Diego Ulissi (Ita)

 
Liège-Bastogne-Liège [1.UWT] – 24-Apr-2022

George Bennett (NZ)
Marc Hirschi (Swi)
Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
Jan Polanc (Slo)
Marc Soler (Spa)
Diego Ulissi (Ita)