UAE Team Emirates Secures 1st Place in UCI Teams Ranking for 2023

UAE Team Emirates brought the curtain down on a highly memorable 2023 season which saw them take first place in the UCI Teams Ranking. The team has clinched the top spot, underscoring their place in the upper echelons of professional cycling.

The announcement was made at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in the presence of H.E (His Excellency) Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, UAE Team Emirates President, Mauro Gianetti, UAE Team Emirates Team Principal and CEO, the team members comprised of Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, number one ranked cyclist in the world, Portuguese Joao Almeida, Brit Adam Yates, and Austrian Felix Grossschartner, as well as sport leaders and media representatives.

This outstanding victory is a testament to the unwavering dedication and exceptional talent of the entire UAE Team Emirates roster. With 57 victories throughout the 2023 season, they have consistently showcased their strength and prowess on the global cycling stage. These wins have come from a wide array of competitions, from classic one-day races to gruelling Grand Tours. In total, 17 different riders from the team claimed victories which demonstrates the team’s combined strength. 

The team's success is exemplified by the phenomenal performance of Tadej Pogačar, who finished as the number one ranked cyclist in the world. The 25-year-old Slovenian sensation has truly cemented his place in the annals of cycling history with a stunning season. His triumph at two of the cycling ‘Monuments’, Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Il Lombardia, and consistent results in other prestigious races have solidified his status as one of the sport's brightest stars.

The top of the Individual rider rankings was also filled by UAE riders with Pogačar (1st), Yates (8th), Almeida (10th), and Marc Hirschi (12th).

UAE Team Emirates has established itself as a force within the sport, achieving this remarkable milestone after years of commitment to excellence and fostering a winning culture. The team's leadership, including the management, sponsors, and riders, have worked tirelessly to create an environment that encourages excellence and teamwork.

This success comes on the heels of the team's commitment to developing young talent, creating an environment that fosters growth, and providing world-class support for their riders. UAE Team Emirates has solidified its place at the summit of the UCI Teams Ranking for 2023 and has set the stage for continued success in the future.

HH Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri (Team President) : "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 the 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 & CEO): "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 cyclists 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."