Tadej Pogačar Headlines a Scary Strong Tour de France Team

Tadej Pogačar is already the favorite to win the Tour de France.

Then UAE Emirates-XRG unveiled the seven riders who will support him.

Isaac del Toro. Adam Yates. Brandon McNulty. Nils Politt. Tim Wellens. Felix Großschartner. Florian Vermeersch.

Seriously?

That’s not just a support team. That’s a Tour-crushing machine.

“We’ve prepared really well as a team, everyone has worked incredibly hard, and now we’re excited to finally get started in Barcelona,” Pogačar said as UAE confirmed its eight-man roster Monday.

Even without João Almeida, Marc Soler, Pavel Sivakov, or Jay Vine, UAE still brings what might be the strongest team in the race.

And with Pogačar chasing a record-tying fifth Tour title, UAE is coming fully loaded.

“I feel good, I’m looking forward to racing, and I know I’ll have a fantastic group of teammates around me,” Pogačar said Monday. “We have a lot of confidence in each other and have built up a lot of experience together over the years.”

Del Toro making Mexican history

Del Toro might be the most overqualified Tour domestique in years.

The 22-year-old arrives as one of the most anticipated Tour rookies in recent memory (not counting Paul Seixas, of course).

He’d probably be leading half the teams in France. Instead, he’ll spend July riding for Pogačar.

Hot off winning the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alps, “El Torito” is expected to be the last man in the mountains.

Del Toro is playing down the pressure, and insists he’s coming to fully support Pogačar.

He’ll also be making history as just the third Mexican to start the Tour de France, and the first since Miguel Arroyo in 1997.

The mountain buttress: Yates and McNulty

When Pogačar wants to light up the climbs — be it on the Tourmalet or over the Galibier — UAE has the riders to turn the knife before he even accelerates.

A former Tour podium finisher, Yates is back after crashing out of the Giro. At 33, he’s healthy again and arrives ready for his 10th Tour start.

McNulty returns for his first Tour since 2022, and the Arizonan gives UAE another rider who can set tempo or cover the dangerous moves deep in the mountains.

Add up Del Toro, Yates, and McNulty, and no GC favorite will have the front-line climbing support like Pogačar.

The engine room

The other half of the team will be working in the trenches.

Pogačar will still need protection on the flats, and UAE has that covered with two classics brawlers.

Politt has emerged as one of the best bodyguards in the peloton. Vermeersch adds another classics motor who can fight for position, chase down breaks, and keep Pogačar out of the wind.

Wellens — back in top health — brings punch and road captain wisdom.

The last addition is Großschartner, who can cover moves, attack, and survive chaotic terrain.

Rivals won’t have it easy

UAE’s Tour 8 is the nightmare scenario for everyone trying to beat Pogačar, who arrives after a spectacular 2026.

The UAE confirmation Monday comes as strongest GC field of the Pogačar era is lining up in Barcelona on July 4.

Jonas Vingegaard is back in full health. Remco Evenepoel has the Red Bull super team behind him. Seixas is coming with an entire nation watching.

But Pogačar will bring arguably what’s the best team in the race.

“There will be strong rivals, difficult stages and many other unpredictable moments, but we’re ready to give everything,” Pogačar said.

Beating Peak Pogačar was already a near-impossible task.

Now everyone has to get through UAE first.