With 20 riders contributing to the tally, this new record underscores UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s collective strength – they’re more than just Pogačar.
Cor Vos, Gruber Images
There’s a made-up word that is bafflingly over-used in sport, and that’s ‘winningest’, as in UAE Team Emirates-XRG is officially the ‘winningest’ team (in one season) in cycling history.
The now-UAE-registered superteam has been steadily trending upwards since 2021, the fifth year of the outfit’s re-identification following 18 years as an Italian team latterly known as Lampre-Merida. They’re now barely recognisable compared to the indigo and pink of the Lampre days, though some of the DNA has remained as far as staff is concerned, but their now-astronomical budget and equally extraordinary roster is on another level entirely. They’ve been the UCI number-1 team since 2023, but they’re now materially on top too with 86 wins in one season – and counting.
“Reaching 86 victories in one season is an extraordinary milestone, and it reflects the incredible commitment and unity of everyone in this organisation,” said team boss Mauro Gianetti in the team’s statement. “This record is not just about numbers, but about the consistency, the sacrifices, and the belief that have carried us through every race.
“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together, and this moment will stand as a reference point in the history of our team and of cycling. We will enjoy it, but also remain motivated to keep pushing for more.”
Tadej Pogačar achieving his own personal milestone of 100 wins on stage 4 of the 2025 Tour de France.
2020 was the best year in the team’s history with 33 wins, including Tadej Pogačar’s storied first Tour de France title. The total dipped to 32 in 2021, but it’s been up, up and away since then, 48 in 2022, 57 in 2023, and a massive 81 in 2024. Almost a year ago, the team was celebrating an extraordinary year that went far beyond Pogačar’s historic Giro-Tour double; the Slovenian took 24 for himself, but no less than 20 separate riders contributed to the total, and yet there was a milestone they’d failed to reach.
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