Wellens Roars to 12th Season Win for Team UAE at Clásica Jaén

Tim Wellens spearheaded a tactical masterclass on the gravel tracks of Clásica Jaén on Monday to make it two wins in a day for UAE Emirates-XRG.

The Belgian champ blasted out of a lead group at around 55km to go in the so-called “Spanish Strade Bianche” and profited from having four teammates neutralizing the chasers.

Pre-race favorite Tom Pidcock was left frustrated and disappointed with a second-place finish after he missed the crucial early splits.

The all-terrain star was able to bridge across to the lead group behind Wellens in the final hour of racing and launch another 3-rider move in the final 10km, but by then, it was too late.

Wellens’ teammate Jan Christen played interference, and Pidcock ran out of road.

Christen was third across the line after he, Pidcock, and fellow attacker Maxim van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) contested the sprint.

However, he was later DQd by race officials after he was judged to “shut the door” on Van Gils in the 3-up kick.

Van Gils crashed hard, but was later able to ride to the finish looking stunned and shaky.

But even with Christen’s disqualification, UAE Emirates still got two riders on the final podium Monday afternoon. New signing Benoît Cosnefroy was “promoted” to third after he was the fourth rider to finish.

Wellens was near-faultless in his long solo through Jaén’s olive groves except for one narrow escape when he nearly slid out on a fast stoney corner.

The 34-year-old kept it upright in the late-race scare and fended off the chase for an impressive 35-second win, the 42nd of his vastly underrated career.

It’s been a long time coming for Wellens, who already placed second and third in the four-year history of the race.

Wellens continues UAE’s early-season rampage at Clásica Jaén

With victories Monday from Wellens in Spain and Isaac del Toro at the UAE Tour, team UAE Emirates-XRG is harvesting victories in 2026 like they’re Jaén’s plump olives.

The super squad now counts 12 wins from 8 different riders after only 6 weeks of racing – and Tadej Pogačar hasn’t even started yet.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe is next-best on 8 wins in 2026.

UAE Emirates-XRG famously broke the season-single win record last year with 97 victories from 20 different riders.

Triple digits is the target for 2026, and at this rate, it’s looking more than realistic.