UAE Team Emirates Storms the Volta a Portugal With a Prologue One-Two

UAE Team Emirates-XRG could hardly have asked for a better first day at the Volta a Portugal. On the opening prologue, Danish rider Julius Johansen stopped the clock in 7 minutes and 12 seconds to win the short time trial and pull on the leader's yellow jersey — and his teammate Rui Oliveira came in just four seconds back for a one-two on the team's debut at Portugal's biggest stage race. If you ride, or you have ever wondered what it takes to go that fast against the clock, there is plenty here worth borrowing for your own training.

A one-two on debut

Johansen's 7:12 was enough to edge Oliveira, the Portuguese rider who races for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, by four seconds, with Portugal's Rafael Reis (Anicolor/Campicarn) third at seven seconds and the team's Luca Giaimi fourth at nine. That is three of the top four riders in one squad's colours on day one — a statement debut at a race the team was contesting for the first time. The team said it was its 60th win of the 2026 season, and Johansen's fourth of the year, every one of them coming in a short time trial against the clock.

Why a prologue is harder than it looks

A prologue is short, but it is not easy. There is no bunch to hide in and no one to share the work: it is you, the clock and a few brutal minutes of holding a pace most people could not sustain for one. Winning one takes a strong aerobic engine, real leg power and the discipline to pace the effort so you finish empty rather than blowing up halfway. Ten stages of the biggest stage race outside the Grand Tours still lie ahead, so the yellow jersey is only the opening move — but the prologue is where the tone gets set.

How to train your own engine

You do not need a WorldTour contract for this kind of training to matter. The same qualities that win a time trial are the ones that make everyday riding in the UAE feel easier: a bigger aerobic base, stronger legs and a core that holds your position. When the summer heat turns long outdoor rides into a bad idea, you can still build that power indoors — add a strength session for the legs and glutes, check your lifting form so it carries over to the bike, and, if you would rather follow a plan than guess, let a personal trainer structure the whole block around your goals.

Ready to find your own top speed?

You will not get a yellow jersey for it, but a stronger engine changes every ride — and it is easier to build with company and a bit of structure. Spin up your aerobic base in an indoor cycling class at GymNation and see how much faster your legs come around.

Sources:
arabs-sport.com
am850.com
uaeteamemirates.com

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.