UAE Team Emirates-XRG dominates Tour of Britain with historic victory
UAE Team Emirates-XRG has added another major title to its remarkable 2026 season after Belgian rider Tim Wellens won the overall classification at the Tour of Britain, while teammate Nils Politt claimed victory on the final stage.
The result gave the Emirati cycling team its first overall victory at the Tour of Britain and took its season total to an impressive 71 wins.
Tim Wellens secures the overall title
Wellens entered the fifth and final stage wearing the green jersey after taking the race lead during Saturday’s Queen stage.
The Belgian successfully defended his advantage through the Scottish Borders to secure the general classification title.
It was Wellens’ second victory of the 2026 season, his first overall stage-race win since the 2024 Renewi Tour and the 10th general classification title of his career.
The achievement also marked his 43rd professional victory.
For UAE Team Emirates-XRG, however, the success was about much more than one rider.
Five UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders break away
The final stage became a demonstration of the team’s collective strength.
Raced entirely within the Scottish Borders, the route began and finished in Earlston, taking riders through the Lammermuir Hills in difficult wet and stormy conditions.
With more than 80 kilometres remaining, UAE Team Emirates-XRG launched an aggressive move that transformed the race.
Wellens was joined by teammates Nils Politt, Mikkel Bjerg, Florian Vermeersch and Benoît Cosnefroy, with all five making the decisive front group after the race split apart in crosswinds.
The team used the 1.9km climb of Duddy Bank, averaging 5.5 per cent, to strengthen its position and distance much of the peloton.
Nils Politt wins the final stage
As the leading riders approached the final 10 kilometres, their advantage had grown beyond one minute.
Politt then made his move.
The German attacked from the front group, opened a gap on his rivals and rode alone to the finish to claim his 10th professional victory.
His win was also UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s 70th victory of the 2026 season.
Only moments later, Wellens crossed the line in eighth place to officially secure the overall Tour of Britain title and deliver win number 71 for the team.
It was a near-perfect conclusion to the race.
UAE riders fill the top positions
UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s dominance was visible throughout the final stage results.
Florian Vermeersch finished second, giving the team two of the first two positions on the stage.
Benoît Cosnefroy crossed the line fourth, Mikkel Bjerg finished seventh and Wellens took eighth while safely protecting his overall lead.
The performance also earned UAE Team Emirates-XRG victory in the team classification.
At the podium ceremony in Earlston, the entire squad celebrated together after completing one of the team’s strongest performances of the season.
Wellens took control in Yorkshire
The team had been building towards the victory from the opening stages.
On stage one in Lincoln, both Wellens and Vermeersch finished inside the top 10.
Crosswinds again played an important role during stage two, when UAE Team Emirates-XRG helped move Wellens into second place overall.
The decisive moment arrived during the Queen stage between Helmsley and Leyburn.
Racing through the Yorkshire Dales, Wellens and his teammates attacked and dropped then-race leader Lewis Askey, allowing the Belgian to move into the green jersey before the final day.
From there, the priority became defending the advantage.
Another milestone in an exceptional season
The Tour of Britain victory adds another trophy to what has already become an extraordinary year for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
Winning the general classification alone would have represented a major achievement, but the team finished the race with the overall title, the final-stage victory and first place in the team classification.
Even more significantly, it marked the squad’s maiden overall victory at the Tour of Britain.
With Wellens taking the green jersey and Politt delivering the final-stage win, UAE Team Emirates-XRG once again demonstrated the depth of a squad capable of controlling races through both individual talent and coordinated team tactics.
The team leaves Britain with 71 victories for the season — and another major international title added to the UAE’s growing presence at the highest level of professional cycling.
