The Emirates News Agency reported that Tim Wellens will head the UAE Team Emirates-XRG lineup at the CRO Race as the squad seeks to extend its hold on the event title secured in the past two editions. The 35-year-old Belgian rider joined the team in 2023 and has since contributed to multiple successes across the calendar while pursuing his own opportunities in stage races. According to the team’s official rider profile, Wellens has recorded 43 professional victories including stage wins at the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España.
UAE Team Emirates claimed the CRO Race general classification in both 2024 and 2025 through American rider Brandon McNulty, Wikipedia compilations of official race results show. The event, which runs as a multi-stage race through varied Croatian terrain each October, forms part of the UCI Europe Tour calendar and has attracted growing international fields since its first edition in 2015. Wellens enters the race in strong form after securing the overall title at the 2026 Tour of Britain, the UAE Team Emirates website stated in recent updates.
Wellens has compiled a notable record in similar mid-week stage races, with four overall victories at what is now known as the Renewi Tour according to his career statistics maintained by the squad. Those successes include back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024 that established him as a proven leader in compact tours. The upcoming CRO Race will offer the team another platform to showcase its depth with support riders expected to assist in both hilly and flatter stages.
Cycling records indicate the CRO Race has evolved from an April date in its early years to a September-October slot that better aligns with the late-season calendar, a shift that began in 2019. Previous winners include prominent names such as Vincenzo Nibali and Adam Yates, underscoring the event’s rising status within European professional racing. UAE Team Emirates-XRG has used the race to develop coordination among its roster while targeting overall contention.
The Belgian champion’s leadership role aligns with his continued contract extension through 2027, which the team announced last year alongside other renewals to maintain experienced core members. Wellens has also collected national titles in both the road race and time trial during his tenure with the Emirati squad. Organisers have yet to release the full 2026 route but historical patterns suggest a mix of coastal roads, inland climbs and a potential summit finish that could suit Wellens’ punchy riding style.
Additional team members for the CRO Race are expected to be confirmed in coming weeks as the squad balances its late-season priorities across remaining UCI calendar commitments. The Emirates News Agency noted that the title defence forms part of UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s broader campaign to maintain momentum after a competitive 2026 season to date. Public details on the race start list remain limited pending final team announcements closer to the October start.
