Pogacar to discuss contract extension with UAE before Vuelta a España

Tadej Pogačar is set to hold talks with UAE Team Emirates-XRG regarding an extension to his existing contract, which runs until the end of 2030. Daniel Benson has reported that Pogačar’s agent Alex Carera will meet with UAE management on the eve of the Vuelta a España to discuss a one-year extension.

In an interview with L’Équipe twelve months ago, Pogačar had appeared to hint at retiring after the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, but he has since repeatedly stressed that he will see out his existing deal with UAE, which would take him past his 32nd birthday. 

Speaking to Daniel Benson's Substack, Carera confirmed that he would meet with team president Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri and manager Mauro Gianetti on Friday. 

“We have a meeting with the team president and Gianetti this week,” Carera said. “Tadej is happy, but there are some points, and it’s not about money. We’re going to talk about 2031. We want to talk about some special clauses, and we’ll talk face-to-face, not on the phone, ahead of the Vuelta. We have the idea of extending the contract.

“Until now we’ve been talking about 2031. There are three or four important clauses, and that’s true. The meeting is in Monaco, on Friday morning, but we will all take our time, maybe a month, as it’s not a standard contract.”

Pogačar won a record-equalling fifth Tour de France last month and he will line up at the Vuelta bidding to complete a full set of Grand Tour victories. The race gets under way from Monaco on Saturday.

The world champion has enjoyed another remarkable season in 2026, winning Strade Bianche, Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de Suisse before dominating the Tour de France.

Pogačar’s lone defeat of 2026 came in a tumultuous edition of Paris-Roubaix, where he had to settle for second behind Wout van Aert. After the Vuelta, Pogačar will defend his world title in Montreal before tackling the European Championships on home roads in Slovenia and then seeking a sixth successive victory at Il Lombardia.