Benoît Cosnefroy of UAE Team Emirates-XRG won the Coppa Sabatini on September 10, 2026, producing a decisive acceleration in the closing meters to overtake the lone breakaway rider and claim the 74th edition of the Italian race, according to multiple cycling reports. The French rider finished ahead of Clément Venturini and Romain Grégoire, completing an all-French podium that denied Giulio Pelizzari a second consecutive one-day victory after his success the previous day. UAE Team Emirates-XRG had entered the event as defending champions, with the squad having secured the past three editions through Marc Hirschi in 2023 and 2024 plus Isaac Del Toro in 2025. This latest success adds to the team’s momentum ahead of the UCI Road World Championships set to begin on September 20.
The race unfolded with Pelizzari launching a solo attack 13 kilometers from the finish in Peccioli, appearing set for the win until the peloton closed the gap in the final stretch, a sequence detailed in coverage by L’Équipe. Cosnefroy timed his surge perfectly from the group to pass the Italian, who ultimately placed sixth, while the top three spots went to the French trio in a display of late-race strength. Sports directors Fabio Baldato and Marco Marzano oversaw the UAE Team Emirates-XRG lineup that included riders such as Igor Arrieta, Filippo Baroncini, Jan Christen, Luca Giaimi, António Morgado and Adrià Pericas. The result underscored the team’s depth in one-day classics as it balances efforts across multiple fronts this season.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG entered the Coppa Sabatini as part of a busy September schedule that also features the Memorial Marco Pantani and Trofeo Matteotti in Italy plus the Canadian classics in Québec and Montréal, the Emirates News Agency reported ahead of the races. The squad holds UCI WorldTeam status and fields a roster of 30 riders that includes established stars such as Tadej Pogačar, João Almeida, Adam Yates and Tim Wellens alongside emerging talents. Its consistent performances in the Coppa Sabatini reflect a targeted approach to these mid-season events, which serve as preparation for the world championships and late-season objectives. The team’s equipment setup, featuring Colnago bikes and Shimano components, has supported its recent string of results.
In the Vuelta a España, which began in August 2026, UAE Team Emirates-XRG initially controlled proceedings with Pogačar claiming stage six and building a substantial general classification lead before a crash on stage eight led to his retirement, according to the race’s official records. João Almeida has since emerged as a key contender, finishing third in the stage 18 individual time trial in Jerez on September 10 and maintaining a solid position in the overall standings. The team sits ninth in the team classification after 18 stages, with riders like Pavel Sivakov, Kevin Vermaerke and Jay Vine contributing to support roles and breakaway efforts throughout the three-week grand tour. Additional stage successes and consistent top-10 finishes by multiple squad members have kept UAE Team Emirates-XRG visible despite the early loss of its primary leader.
The Vuelta a España has seen fluctuating leadership, with Enric Mas of Movistar Team taking the red jersey after Pogačar’s withdrawal, while other classifications feature Wout van Aert dominating the points and Santiago Buitrago leading the mountains, per updated standings from the event organizers. UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s ability to adapt and secure secondary results aligns with its broader 2026 campaign that has already produced numerous victories across various UCI events. The squad’s participation in both the Coppa Sabatini and Vuelta a España exemplifies its strategy of competing at the highest level on multiple continents in a single week. Further races in the coming days will provide additional opportunities to build on this form before the world championships.
Preparations for the UCI Road World Championships have influenced the team’s selections, with the Canadian and Italian races offering demanding courses that mirror the expected intensity in the elite road event, the Emirates News Agency noted in its preview coverage. UAE Team Emirates-XRG has emphasized rider development alongside veteran leadership, a model that has yielded podiums and stage wins throughout the season. The Coppa Sabatini triumph by Cosnefroy, who joined the team in 2026, highlights the impact of recent roster additions. As the Vuelta a España heads into its final week, the squad aims to consolidate its standing in the remaining stages and classifications.
