A repeat at the Abu Dhabi Tour may not be in the cards for Rui Costa, but the UAE Team Emirates rider is happy to share the load with his new team-mates.
Costa, who claimed the title in the capital last year, will be joined by top names Fabio Aru and Alexander Kristoff in the squad at this year’s Abu Dhabi Tour.
One way to look at the strengthened UAE Team Emirates roster is to assume a slide down the totem pole for Costa, but the Portuguese cyclist views the revamped side as a benefit to him – both as a challenge and in the form of help.
“For sure I’m really motivated. I’m motivated to push myself at the top, like I’ve always done, but for sure this year because my team-mates are really strong,” Costa told Sport360°.
“But it’s better for me because you never know in the race, sometimes you crash or whatever reason, having two leaders and leaders who can win several stages in races this season, there’s less stress for everybody. The pressure was just on my shoulders a lot before and now I have to share this pressure with several riders.”
Costa will also have a tougher time defending his title in Abu Dhabi due to his relative lack of fitness and the addition of a time trial on the fourth stage.
“I’m not in the same shape or same condition as last year because I was sick for one week when I came back from Australia and I lost several days of training,” Costa said. “After Oman, I’m going up and for sure until the penultimate stage, the time trial, I think I can do a good race. If I’m front, my team-mates will work with me and if they’re in front, I’ll work with them.”
