UAE Team Emirates has received the first place in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Teams Ranking 2023. The team has received 57 victories in 2023 in various competitions, including one-day races and grand tours, enhancing Abu Dhabi’s cycling culture, and encouraging the development of young athletes.
A total of 17 different riders from the team claimed victories. The team's success is exemplified by the performance of Tadej Pogačar, who finished as the number one ranked rider in the world. The top of the individual rider rankings included Tadej Pogačar (first place), Adam Yates (eighth place), Almeida (10th place), and Marc Hirschi (12th place).
His Excellency Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, Team President of UAE Team Emirates, said: "The performances our guys have shown this year are inspiring the whole nation. Cycling in the UAE has grown exponentially over the past years and having our team perform at the very top of the world stage is a big factor in that process. We are building a strong cycling culture in the UAE both as a mode of transport and for recreation and sport. Having UAE Team Emirates as a reference for children growing up in the UAE is an important step to get them active and involved in sport which is a major part of our global cycling project.”
“In recent years we have seen hundreds of kilometres of cycling paths built across UAE, which saw Abu Dhabi being classified as Asia's first UCI Bike City. We are also now preparing to host the 2027 Track World Championships and the 2028 Road World Championships, so it's an exciting period. Everything is going in the right direction, and we are so proud of the path we are going in all together.”
Mauro Gianetti, Team Principal and CEO of UAE Team Emirates, said: "It gives me great satisfaction to say that we have reached the number one spot in the UCI World Rankings for 2023. It's no secret that this goal has been a priority of ours since our team’s inception and I must thank our sponsors and supporters from the UAE for carrying this dream through.”
“We've had a record year in terms of our 57 victories and that was possible due to the enormous collective effort of our dedicated riders and staff. The UAE as a country is constantly advancing and we try to mirror that as a team with our innovative approach to performance. We'll look back and celebrate this milestone and important moment in our team’s history, but with one eye looking ahead to the future and continuing the steps we are making. We are extremely proud to have been part of the global bike development project in the UAE from the beginning, for sure the most complete and concrete in the world."
