UAE Team Emirates-XRG ready for Murcia, Clásica Jaén and the Figueira Champions Classic

As an ambitious contingent of UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders are readying up for their home race in the United Arab Emirates, an equally adept collection of teammates is gathering in Spain and Portugal for an exciting set of races over the coming days.

Between Friday, 13 February, and Monday, 16 February, the Vuelta a la Región de Murcia, the Figueira Champions Classic, and the Clásica Jaén await the Emirati squad, all races at which UAE Team Emirates-XRG has tasted success.

First up for the squad will be the two-day stage race known also as the Costa Cálida, the Vuelta a la Región de Murcia. Held across multiple days for the first time since 2020, the Vuelta a Murcia will see the peloton race between Cartagena and Yecla on Friday’s stage 1, before a tougher challenge awaits between Murcia and Santomera on Saturday’s stage 2.

The second day, in particular, should prove pivotal in the general classification, with 2,401m of climbing on offer across the 178.7km-long day. Standing at 6.7% for 4.2km, the final climb will top out with just 22km to ride to the finish in Santomera.

For UAE Team Emirates-XRG, this race holds good memories.

Alessandro Covi won the event in 2022, with Tim Wellens going on to finish on the podium two years later. This time around, Wellens will be for more, alongside a team led by Sports Directors Aner Moreno and Manuele Mori. The full UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad is as follows:
– Igor Arrieta (Spa)
– Benoît Cosnefroy (Fra)
– Julius Johansen (Den)
– Marc Soler (Spa)
– Tim Wellens (Bel)
– Daan Dijkman (Ned) (Gen Z)
– Enea Sambinello (Ita) (Gen Z)

Wellens and his WorldTour teammates will stay on in Spain for another big test on Monday, 16 February, the Clásica Jaén. There, Arrieta, Cosnefroy, Johansen, Soler and Wellens will also be joined by Domen Novak and Jan Christen.

The Clásica Jaén is run through the region’s olive groves, which means gravel tracks that are heavily inspired by Italy’s Strade Bianche. With steep climbs and loose terrain to contend with, the race has earned a fierce reputation over its first few editions and has become a must-see race on the calendar.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG won the first edition with the irrepressible Tadej Pogačar, before Wellens and Isaac del Toro followed up with fourth and second-place finishes, respectively. For Wellens, the Vuelta a Murcia and the Clásica Jaén offer a great way for the Belgian national champion to begin the new campaign.

Meanwhile, over in Portugal, UAE Team Emirates-XRG will line up for the fourth edition of the Figueira Champions Classic on Saturday, 14 February. Billed as the one-day precursor to the prestigious Volta ao Algarve, the Figueira Champions Classic is no easy test, with 2,542m of climbing promised along its 191.4km-long course.

The Emirati squad triumphed through António Morgado this time last year, and the young Portuguese talent will be back to defend his title this weekend.

Already a winner of the Trofeo Calvià so far this season, Morgado will be joined in his home nation by his compatriots and teammates, Rui and Ivo Oliveira. Experience will be offered by Felix Großschartner and Brandon McNulty, whilst youthful enthusiasm will be brought by UAE Team Emirates Gen Z riders, Ugo Fabries and Luca Giaimi.

Together, the seven-man squad will be led in the team car by Sports Directors Tomas Gil and Simone Pedrazzini.