CyclistThe Broom Wagon: Does this sound familiar?The Broom Wagon is our weekly pro cycling newsletter, bringing news, results, opinions and analysis directly to your inbox, you can either subscribe here or join us on Substack.It was groundhog day last week, so it felt only right that cycling has just seen history repeat itself again. No, no one else has joined Pogaar in the bleach blond club, Im talking about race results.Our first case of near-fatal dj vu came at the womens UAE Tour, which might as well be a Lorena Wiebes tribute event after she claimed three consecutive sprint wins, just like she did last year. In similarly repetitive fashion, UAE Team ADQ leader Elisa Longo Borghini finished the job in the overall with another solo victory atop Jebel Hafeet. Given this was the exact same race outcome as last year, youre forgiven for thinking that were back in February 2025.Over in the Valencia region, Remco Evenepoel continued his miraculous winter block at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. The Belgian pinched the GC title, his first in Red Bull colours, after picking up two stages throughout the week. His performances there were characteristically Remco, having launched a powerful solo move on the queen stage to leave everyone in his wake.After five years of pulling off the same tricks, you think someone would have found a way to crack the code. At least, someone who doesnt go by the name of Tadej Pogaar.Just like last year, Joo Almeida finished as runner-up in Valencia, which Im confident will become a theme for him in 2026. The Portuguese rider left me wanting more last week, but at least he has the Volta ao Algarve to right his wrongs in seven days time. At this point, however, all the hype seems concentrated in the Evenepoel camp. Just imagine what he could do if he was riding the Giro. Related Posts Is 2026 make or break for JooAlmeida? The Broom Wagon: What would the pro cycling world look like without Pogaar? Rog, Remco or Lipo? Addressing Red Bull's 2026 leadership dilemma Sign up to the Cyclist newsletter The curse of the groundhog also reared its bushy face over at the toile de Bessges as Unibet-Rose Rockets found themselves in a loop throughout the race.Over the five days of racing, the team finished runners up on four stages, having been beaten by plucky outsidersevery time. Even in the overall, they found themselves pipped for the title after a strange time-trial from European Championship bronze medallist Niklas Larsen.No GC podium, no stages. Maybe they werent worth the Tour de France invite after all. Seriously, they sent an all-star roster, including big-bucks leader Dylan Groenewegen, and they still managed to come out empty handed (and with a fair bit of uf on their face).Congratulations, on the other hand, must be bestowed upon Groupama-FDJ Uniteds Ewen Costiou, who ended up takingthe title. He was one of the better riders left behind in the smoky remains of Arka-B&B Hotels, which folded last winter. The plucky Breton showed some real signs of promise there, and at just 22 years of age, he has what it takes to become a serial winner on the French circuit.Similar praise should be offered to fellow Arka refugee Ral Garca Pierna, who claimed a surprise win from the breakaway at the Volta ala ComunitatValenciana. Hes successfully translated his bullish style over to Movistar, so expect to see him take a step up in 2026.Moving on from what we can now officially call groundhog week, were now just seven days away from the first proper test of the season at the mens UAE Tour, which actually will be very different to last year with a strong start list and a new monster climb.The post The Broom Wagon: Does this sound familiar? appeared first on Cyclist.