The rider

Felix Großschartner is the connective tissue of UAE's mountain unit, the rider who rarely turns a stage into a personal spectacle but often determines whether the team enters the decisive kilometres in full control. A former Vuelta top-10 finisher and Tour of Turkey winner, he has enough GC background to understand how leaders suffer and enough selflessness to turn that understanding into service. In a squad filled with stars and specialists, his value is steadiness.

His fourth Austrian time-trial title matters because UAE's 2026 Tour begins with a collective test where every detail counts. Großschartner can contribute there, then shift into the climbing train once the race reaches long ascents. He is not usually the final explosive helper. Instead, he is the rider who makes the transition from valley to mountain cleaner, who closes the dangerous move before it becomes a problem, and who keeps the pace honest while more famous teammates wait for their cue.

There is a quiet art to that role. A mountain domestique has to hurt rivals without accidentally hurting his own leader, and he has to know when the tempo should be defensive, corrective or destructive. Großschartner's years beside Pogačar have taught him those shades. He is trusted because he does not need a perfect day to be useful. Across three weeks, that kind of reliable climbing intelligence can be the difference between a spectacular team and a Tour-winning one.