The Giro starts Friday. UAE team Emirates-XRG has a plan

UAE Team Emirates-XRG has announced its line-up for the 109th edition of the Giro d'Italia, the iconic three-week race that begins in Bulgaria next Friday and concludes in Rome on 31 May.

Adam Yates will lead the team's general classification ambitions. The experienced British climber arrives in excellent form following his recent victory at O Gran Camiño, a result that has sharpened his confidence ahead of one of cycling's most demanding races. His ability to perform in the mountains and his tactical intelligence over three-week races make him a genuine contender.

The eight-rider squad alongside Yates includes Igor Arrieta, Mikkel Bjerg, Jhonatan Narváez and Marc Soler, with two Grand Tour debutants adding excitement to the roster: Jan Christen and António Morgado.

The team enters with broad ambitions, targeting not only the general classification but also stage victories throughout the race.

"My preparations have been ideal," Yates said, citing an intensive training camp and strong team cohesion as key factors ahead of the challenge.

With Pogačar having already dominated the spring classics for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the Giro offers Yates his own stage to shine, and the team another opportunity to underline its status as the most formidable outfit in world cycling.