Fresh off his overall win in the Valencia Volta, Tadej Pogachal will be looking for more success in the UAE Tour, his first major goal for the 2020 season.

The 21-year-old will be an important part of the UAE Team Emirates squad for the Tour de France in July, following three stage wins and a third place overall finish at the Vuelta a España in his debut professional season.

Pogacar's brilliant 2019 campaign started the new season in similar form with overall wins at the Volta ao Algarve and Tour of California, prior to his remarkable Grand Tour debut in Spain, and two stages and an overall win in Valencia

"I've been in the same boat.

"After the Vuelta Valenciana, I feel confident that I am in good shape," Pogacar said in a statement released by the team. "After the winter, it's hard to know where you stand, but I worked really hard in training and the UAE will be my first big target of the season leading up to the Tour de France."

Pogacar will avoid the Volta ao Algarve this season and will take part in the UAE Tour, which runs from February 23-29. Slovenian riders Diego Ulissi and Davide Formolo will join UAE Team Emirates, while Fernando Gaviria, who scored a hat trick in the Vuelta a San Juan, will be looking for more sprint success.

"Me, Diego, and Davide have a lot on the cards in the mountain stages. The team atmosphere is very good and winning obviously helps."

Gaviria will once again pilot his lead-out man Max Richeze in a group finish in the UAE, and his sprint train will also include Oliviero Troia and Sven-Erik Bystrom.

"The UAE Tour is our home race and one of the most important races of the season. We have a strong trio in Pogachar, Formolo, and Ulissi for the mountain stages, we want to do well on every stage in the UAE and we are full of confidence after our strong start to the season."

UAE Team Emirates for the UAE Tour (February 23-29): Fernando Gaviria (Col), Max Riches (Arg), Davide Formolo (Italy), Diego Ulissi (Italy), Tadei Pogachar (Sl.), Oliviero Troia ( Italy), Sven-Erik Byström (Nor).