Narváez commits long-term future to UAE following Ineos links
After speculation surrounding his future in recent months, the former three-time Ecuadorian Champion has committed to the Emirati team.
Jhonatan Narváez has signed a contract extension with UAE Team Emirates-XRG that runs through until the end of 2029.
Narváez joined the Emirati team for 2025, having spent six seasons as part of the Ineos Grenadiers squad and has enjoyed plenty of success during his spell at UAE so far. Since the move, Narváez has claimed eight victories, including winning the Santos Tour Down Under and Ecuadorian Championships in 2025.
This season, Narváez abandoned the Tour Down Under after a crash, ruling him out of the spring classics. However, the Ecuadorian bounced back upon his return to racing, as he was one of the standout riders at the Giro d’Italia, winning three stages and was even locked in a battle for the points classification before abandoning the race on stage 19.
In recent months, Narváez was linked with a return to his former employers, now Netcompany-Ineos, but confirmation of his contract extension marks a significant boost for UAE, who have established themselves as a force within the peloton in recent years.
“I’m very happy to extend my contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG. From the moment I arrived, I felt the confidence of the team, and I quickly knew this was the right place for me,” said Narváez in a team statement. “We have an incredible group of riders and staff, and every day there is a real desire to improve and win together.”
In his most recent outing, Narváez supported Tadej Pogačar to victory at the Tour de Suisse, while also winning stage 3 from the breakaway.
“The last two seasons have been some of the best of my career and I believe I can continue to grow here. We have already achieved a lot together, but I feel there is still much more to come,” said Narváez. “I’m excited to continue this journey and to keep contributing to the success of this team in the years ahead.”
Narváez’s contract renewal follows that of both Brandon McNulty and Florian Vermeersch, who were confirmed in April to have extended with UAE through 2030 and 2029, respectively.
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