UAE Emirates XRG back on record hunt: "This is just the beginning"

It’s not even March yet, but the win count for UAE Emirates XRG is already piling up. Isaac Del Toro’s triumph at the UAE Tour was just the tip of the iceberg: the team has already racked up 15 victories with seven different riders. Sporting director Matxin is clear to Sporza that the team is aiming even higher this year.

Last year, the record set by Columbia-HTC in 2009 (85 wins) was broken with 95 victories, and this year, hitting the magical 100-win mark could well be a target. “100 is just a number. What matters to me is winning more than last year. And preferably with one more rider,” emphasizes Matxin, who saw 20 of the 29 riders on the squad win races last year.

And that’s even as the team’s flagship rider, Tadej Pogacar, still has to get into race shape. “This is just the beginning,” the manager warns.

The Spaniard also foresees a key role soon for Florian Vermeersch in the Flemish Opening Weekend. “Where do I sign? He’s a strong rider with a solid mentality. We want to try to win a race with him this year.”

As for the idea that the team is too dominant, the sporting director disagrees. “Someone has to be the best and finish on top. For now, it’s us, and we should enjoy it while it lasts.”