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Owen Rogers

'The more you have, the better it is' – Why three Continental teams were allowed to skirt UCI regulations and race the UAE Tour

JEBEL HAFEET, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 08: Sara Luccon of Italy and Team Top Girls Fassa Bortolo competes in the breakaway during the 4th UAE Tour Women 2026, Stage 4 a 156km stage from Al Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium to Jebel Hafeet 1042m / #UCIWWT / on February 08, 2026 in Jebel Hafeet, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images).

The three Continental Teams permitted to ride in the UAE Tour Women this week were not only present in the breakaways each day, but also won one of the race classifications – even though technically, new rules say they shouldn't be in the race at all.

Sara Luccon won the intermediate sprints competition despite a regulation change that apparently barred her Top Girls Fassa Bortolo team and other third-division Continental Teams from Women's WorldTour races.

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