Summer of Sport
The United Arab Emirates is known for its colossal skylines and vast deserts, but in recent years, it has also become a hub for the world of professional cycling. The UAE Emirates Cycling Team, established in 2017, has quickly risen to become one of the most successful and reputable professional cycling teams on the global stage.
The team was born from a partnership between the UAE and Italian sports management company Giuseppe Saronni’s Professional Cycling Team (formerly Lampre-Merida). The cooperation aimed at nurturing and promoting the sport of cycling in the UAE, bringing international exposure to the nation, and developing local talents.
Initially launched as UAE Abu Dhabi, the team was rebranded as UAE Team Emirates in March 2017. Since then, the squad has attracted top cyclists worldwide, creating a diverse roster of seasoned veterans and young, promising talent. With remarkable victories, the team has enormously impacted the professional cycling circuit in just a few years.
With riders from over 20 countries, including Italy, Spain, Colombia, and the United Arab Emirates, the team brings together a wide range of cultural and cycling backgrounds. And under Gianetti’s leadership, the team has focused on developing young talent and investing in innovative technologies and training methods, including virtual reality simulations and advanced data analytics.
This all paid off in 2020 when team member Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar’s won the Tour de France – the world’s most prestigious cycling race – and became the youngest winner in over a century. Discovered by the team at the age of 20, Pogačar’s success has helped raise the team’s profile and establish it as a significant contender in the world of cycling. Retaining his title the following year justified the team’s commitment to fostering young talent.
Inspired by this, cycling is now a growing sport in the UAE, hosting various international cycling events, including the UAE Tour and the Dubai Tour, attracting top cyclists to the region. Government support has seen the construction of cycling tracks, dedicated lanes, and even bike-sharing programmes have contributed to the expanding interest. Still, the UAE Emirates Cycling Team remains at the centre, helping create a thriving community that nurtures the next generation of Emirati cyclists by hosting events, sponsoring local races, and supporting regional clubs.
All this has been achieved while firmly committed to social and environmental causes. The team has partnered with various organisations to raise awareness about climate change, clean energy, and sustainable development. They have also launched their own sustainability programme to reduce the team’s carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly practices within the cycling community.
This even extends to using electric support vehicles during races, showing the world that reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability in the sport is possible.
Being from the UAE, they naturally do all this in style and have partnered with Richard Mille. UAE Team Emirates riders will carry Richard Mille branding on their bikes and kits throughout the subsequent four campaigns, while cyclists can also sport the Richard Mille RM 67-02 watch. An ergonomic model and a technical tour de force, weighing just 32 grams, it also features a unique strap that is seamless, non-slip and highly elastic to follow every individual wearer’s wrist contour.
Richard Mille’s EMEA CEO, Peter Harrison, said of the partnership with the technologically incredible watch, “UAE Team Emirates has repeatedly demonstrated that it has world-class standards and a passion for excellence, and we share the same vision and ambitions at Richard Mille.”
That commitment to innovation and technology is also evident in its partnerships with leading companies in the cycling industry. In 2020, the team announced a collaboration with one of the world’s best bike designers, Colnago, and work closely with Colnago’s engineers and designers to develop cutting-edge bikes that are optimised for performance and aerodynamics. It’s not easy to break into the world of professional cycling, but now the UAE team are one of the best groups and at the head of the pack in many other ways as well.
With a strong and talented roster of riders, a visionary manager, a commitment to excellence and innovation, and the backing of a nation deeply invested in the sport of cycling, the team is well-positioned to continue making a mark in the world of professional cycling. Whether competing in the Tour de France, inspiring the next generation of local cyclists or working to reduce their carbon footprint, the UAE Emirates Cycling Team is a rising force that will impact the sport and beyond.
