UAE Grand Tour sweep ambition is now shaping Joxean Fernández Matxin’s thinking for 2027. UAE Team Emirates have just completed another dominant campaign, yet their team boss is already focused on a larger prize.

The squad finished top of the UCI team rankings for the fourth consecutive season. UAE collected 78 victories through 20 different riders, underlining their depth across the calendar.

Matxin told Eurosport Spain he does not spend much time revisiting those achievements. Instead, he pointed to Visma’s 2023 season as the benchmark still ahead.

UAE Grand Tour sweep becomes the next benchmark

Visma won all three Grand Tours in 2023 with three different riders. Primož Roglič took the Giro d’Italia, Jonas Vingegaard won the Tour de France, and Sepp Kuss claimed the Vuelta a España.

Matxin said that achievement remains the dream for UAE. It would require perfect planning, clear leadership, and a squad capable of absorbing pressure across five months.

UAE appear to have the leaders needed for such an attempt. Tadej Pogačar remains the team’s outstanding Grand Tour force. Isaac del Toro has also emerged as a possible leader, while João Almeida gives the team another proven option.

The difficult part will be allocating those riders across the Giro, Tour, and Vuelta. Del Toro could receive a Giro leadership role. Pogačar has already identified a sixth Tour de France victory, the Vuelta, and the World Championships as key 2027 objectives.

Matxin has not confirmed the team’s Grand Tour structure. He said riders such as Del Toro and Pogačar can contend wherever they start. He added that UAE will create a balanced season with opportunities for everyone.

Injuries shape UAE’s caution after 2026 setbacks

UAE’s ambitions also come after a difficult 2026 season marked by crashes and injuries. Matxin revealed that the team recorded 78 crashes during the year. He said 18 of the squad’s 30 riders suffered fractures.

Pogačar was among those affected. His crash at the Vuelta ended his season early, despite his desire to race again before the year finished.

UAE’s medical staff, led by Adrian Rotunno, advised against a return. Matxin acknowledged the sporting temptation to bring back a rider capable of winning immediately. However, he supported the decision and called it a wise one.

The team boss remains confident about Pogačar’s response. He said he has no doubt the Slovenian will be better than last year.

Tour route changes add another layer

Pogačar’s pursuit of a sixth Tour title will come on a different type of route. The 2027 Tour de France features fewer summit finishes and more kilometres against the clock.

That design has prompted suggestions that organisers want to make Pogačar’s task harder. Matxin said he understands the aim of preventing the race from being settled too early.

He used last year’s Tourmalet stage to explain the challenge facing course designers. A hard climb followed by an easier ascent at three percent can limit attacks. Yet it can still make struggling riders lose significant time.

Matxin said organisers want formats that keep the race open for as long as possible. He also stressed that predicting the outcome remains impossible.

Rivals remain hard to rank

Matxin would not name one clear challenger for Pogačar. Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel remain central to the discussion. Paul Seixas has also entered the picture after his breakthrough season.

The UAE boss noted how quickly cycling narratives change. One year the main rival can appear to be Vingegaard. The next, Evenepoel may dominate the conversation.

Matxin said UAE cannot dismiss any of them. He specifically warned against ruling out Remco, Jonas, or Seixas.

For now, UAE’s exact plan remains private. The picture should become clearer after the team’s December training camp, when leadership roles and Grand Tour targets are expected to take firmer shape.

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