Belgium – UAE Team Emirates-XRG fell short in the Belgian Opening Weekend, unable to make a significant impact at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne without Tadej Pogačar.
Despite being considered a powerhouse alongside Visma-Lease a Bike, UAE failed to disrupt the sprinter teams’ plans. Riders Jonathan Narváez, António Morgado, and Tim Wellens made efforts to animate the races, but the team left Belgium without a top-20 finish.
Tim Wellens acknowledged the absence of their star rider, stating, “We miss Tadej in every race he doesn’t participate in. He makes things easier, but we have to step up ourselves.”
Tactical Efforts but No Breakthrough
On Saturday, UAE showed early aggression, launching an acceleration 90km from the finish at Lange Munte’s cobbles and later attacking on the Holleweg pavé, but these moves didn’t cause major splits. Sunday saw a similar pattern, with Wellens and Narváez attempting attacks, only to be reeled back by the peloton.
Wellens noted the tactical challenges, explaining that headwinds and controlled racing prevented decisive moves. “The sprinter teams made it hard to break away. Maybe with more teams willing to avoid a sprint, we’d have had a better shot.”
Looking Ahead to Strade Bianche
Despite the lack of results, Wellens remains optimistic, stating that his form is on track for the spring classics. “The legs feel good. The numbers are similar to previous years. Nothing extraordinary, but I’m ready for the classics.”
UAE will regroup for Strade Bianche, where Pogačar is set to return, aiming to reassert their dominance.
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