Matteo Milan just outside the top 10

# Matteo Milan Falls Just Short of Top 10 Finish at UAE Tour 2026

The final stage of the 2026 UAE Tour wrapped up on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, with young Italian rider Matteo Milan narrowly missing a top-10 finish, crossing the line in eleventh place. David Gaudu secured his eighteenth position overall in the general classification.

Covering just under 150 kilometres, the seventh and concluding stage was expected to be somewhat straightforward, yet riders maintained vigilance due to the increasing competition. “The day was expected to be quite tense, especially since the riders had heard that the peloton was growing tired of Jonathan Milan’s sprint wins,” noted Stéphane Goubert, the team’s director. The race began energetically, particularly influenced by Remco Evenepoel, and a breakaway formed after twenty kilometres. However, the peloton kept a tight rein on the escapees, ensuring their lead never exceeded one minute thirty seconds.

With two kilometres remaining, the Groupama-FDJ United train made a significant push to the front. Axel Huens played a crucial role in positioning Matteo Milan for the final sprint. “The guys really did the job,” Stéphane said. “I simply think Matteo spent a lot of mental and physical energy this week; there was also the crash, and that may have been what he lacked to make the top 10 today.”

It’s worth noting that this was Milan’s first week-long WorldTour stage race and he was riding with a new team. “In any case, the teamwork is clicking, and that’s positive,” Stéphane added. Meanwhile, Matteo’s brother, Jonathan Milan, clinched his third victory of the week, and Isaac del Toro triumphed in the overall classification. “As for David, the goal was to show steady progression, and that’s what he demonstrated yesterday with his top-10 finish,” Stéphane concluded. Looking ahead, the team is eager to shift focus to the upcoming races.