The cycling world is abuzz with the recent announcement that Olympic Champion Remco Evenepoel will be competing in the UAE Tour, a race that was initially rumored but not confirmed until recently. This development has sparked excitement and anticipation among fans, as it sets the stage for a potential showdown between Evenepoel and fellow racing star Isaac del Toro. But here's where it gets interesting: the initial schedule revealed by Evenepoel did not include the UAE Tour, leaving many to wonder why he would opt out of such a prestigious race.
Evenepoel's season is set to kick off on January 29th at the Trofeo Ses Salines, a new team time trial event in the Mallorca Challenge. This race will feature several riders from the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe team who will also be participating in the Tour de France later in the year. The Tour de France will begin with a TTT in Barcelona, and some teams are already gearing up for that specific day. Following this, Evenepoel will race the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana near his home in Spain, a strategic move to test his early-season form.
Initially, Evenepoel's schedule only included the Volta a Catalunya, creating a month-and-a-half gap between the two races, with the Ardennes following after Catalunya. While Evenepoel has an altitude camp at Mount Teide scheduled for that period, it was odd that he wouldn't compete for such a long time. However, according to Het Laatste Nieuws, the decision has been made to add the UAE Tour to the calendar, with the race organizers making a strong push to secure Evenepoel's presence.
If this comes to pass, Evenepoel will be going head-to-head with several riders who have already confirmed their presence, including Isaac del Toro and Jay Vine of UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Antonio Tiberi and Damiano Caruso of Bahrain - Victorious, and David Gaudu. This addition to the schedule has created a buzz in the cycling community, as fans eagerly anticipate the potential clash between Evenepoel and del Toro, two of the sport's rising stars.
