Jumbo-Visma might have gained all three Grand Excursions however UAE Workforce Emirates can declare to be the perfect crew on this planet in 2023 after topping the UCI crew rating for the primary time.
Because of Tadej Pogčar once more topping the person factors rankings and the opposite main riders all scoring a haul of factors, UAE Workforce Emirates had been ranked finest crew with a complete of 30,958 factors in response to a desk printed by directeur sportif Joxean Matxin.
Jumbo-Visma had been second with 29,651 factors, Soudal-QuickStep a distant third at 18,697 and Ineos Grenadiers fourth with 17,807 factors.
UAE Workforce Emirates and Jumbo-Visma had been locked in a battle all season, combating for the largest victories and the UCI crew rating.
They introduced their crew alternatives late for key races to attempt to land a tactical benefit over their rivals and sought out factors wherever they may, even in minor races outdoors the WorldTour.
Jumbo-Visma gained 69 races and took 127 podium spots, whereas UAE Workforce Emirates gained 57 races and took 139 podium spots, their broader set of outcomes giving them the number-one rating.
For UAE Workforce Emirates crew supervisor Mauro Gianetti, main the crew rating was a matter of satisfaction and satisfaction after an intense 23023 season.
“Profitable the UCI crew classifications confirms that we’re the perfect crew on this planet. That’s particular for us and for our sponsors. It additionally implies that the United Arab Emirates has the primary crew in skilled biking,” he informed Cyclingnews.
“It was one in every of our greatest targets for 2023 alongside the Tour de France. We didn’t win the Tour however we completed second and third. We gained with 18 totally different riders, we gained the perfect younger rider white jersey in all three Grand Excursions. That reveals the long run seems to be good too. We’ve invested in younger expertise and it’s paying off.”
Pogacar was on excellent type within the spring Classics earlier than his crash at Liege-Bastogne-Liege disrupted his preparation for the Tour de France. He cracked within the Alps however fought to complete second behind Jonas Vingegaard, with Adam Yates becoming a member of on the ultimate podium in Paris after ending third total. Pogacar additionally gained Il Lombardia to safe UAE Workforce Emirates and his personal number-one spot within the rankings.
João Almeida was third on the Giro d’Italia and took a sequence of different good outcomes, whereas Juan Ayuso was fourth on the Vuelta a Espana and second on the Tour de Suisse regardless of an early season harm. Marc Hirschi additionally scored a haul of factors in 2023, particularly within the end-of-season races, whereas the USA’s Brandon McNulty was the crew’s fifth most vital factors scorer with 1943 factors.
“It’s been a unprecedented season for us,” Gianetti instructed.
“We began off actually with Jay Vine profitable the Tour Down Below after which Tadej gained the Tour of Flanders, the Amstel Gold Race and Fleche-Wallonne.
“Tadej’s dangerous crash and fracture was one thing new for him. He spent three and a half weeks off the bike and needed to begin his Tour de France coaching from scratch. We weren’t certain what would occur on the Tour de France however Tadej gave his all.
“We needed to win the Tour however we will solely settle for that Jonas Vingegaard and Jumbo-Visma had been higher this yr. We’re nonetheless proud to complete second and third, and to have fought daily.
“The stage over the Col de la Loze when Tadej cracked was a special occasion as a result of he dug deep and managed to hold onto second total. Quite a lot of different riders would have give up however he confirmed his character by combating on.”
UAE Workforce Emirates will collect in Abu Dhabi to plan their 2024 marketing campaign, with Pogacar and the crew tempted to focus on a Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double. New signings for 2024 embrace Pavel Sivakov, Nils Politt, Filippo Baroncini and younger abilities Igor Arrieta, Tour de L’Avenir winner Isaac del Toro and António Morgado.
“There’s a variety of hypothesis that Tadej may trip the Giro d’Italia, however nothing has been determined but,” Gianetti informed Cyclingnews on the Corsa Rosa presentation.
“We wish to see the route of the Tour de France after which fastidiously take into account issues and speak as a crew throughout our first crew get-together. Solely then will we determine and announce our plans and targets for 2024.
“The 2024 Tour de France might be an excellent race, particularly contemplating what occurred this yr, with Primož Roglič at Bora-Hansgrohe and Remco Evenepoel focusing on the Tour de France too. I can’t look forward to July.
“The battle between us and Jumbo-Visma motivates and pushes each groups to enhance, develop and work onerous. I feel it’s wholesome competitors that additionally stimulates different groups to boost their sport and work onerous too. For certain we’re going to be working to enhance for 2024.”