Tadej Pogacar extends UAE contract to 2032 as Vuelta crash ends 2026 season

The announcement confirms two developments that had already been reported before UAE Team Emirates-XRG made them official.

Daniel Benson had previously reported that Pogačar had agreed a new deal through 2032, with only confirmation from the team still outstanding. Earlier on Saturday, La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Ciro Scognamiglio reported that Pogačar would not race again this season as he continued his recovery from the injuries suffered at the Vuelta a España.

Pogačar's new agreement adds two years to a contract that had previously been due to run until the end of 2030. The 27-year-old joined UAE in 2019 and has since developed into the dominant rider of his generation, winning five editions of the Tour de France alongside the Giro d'Italia, the World Championships and a growing collection of Monument victories.

"From the beginning, this team has felt like home for me," Pogačar said in a statement released by the team on Saturday. "We have grown together over the years and shared some incredible moments, so I'm very happy to extend my contract until 2032.

"There is still a lot I want to achieve in this sport and I believe this is the right place to do it."

The length of the agreement is particularly notable given the questions that have surrounded Pogačar's longer term plans. He had previously hinted that the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 could provide a natural point to reconsider his future, although he later made clear that he intended to honour his existing UAE contract. 

The new agreement now potentially keeps Pogačar racing with the team until he is 34. For now, however, attention is firmly on his recovery from his Vuelta a España crash.

Pogačar's season was brought to a sudden halt on stage 8 of the Vuelta when he crashed at high speed with 32km remaining. He initially tried to continue but was quickly forced to abandon.

Subsequent examinations revealed a concussion, a stable fracture of the C7 vertebra and an open fracture of his collarbone. He later underwent surgery on the collarbone in Barcelona.

Pogačar's chances of defending his world title in Montréal on September 27 had already appeared remote, with Slovenian national team doctor Krištof Knap describing a Worlds return as unrealistic. UAE team manager Mauro Gianetti had also played down the possibility of Pogačar recovering in time.

UAE have now confirmed that Pogačar will miss the World Championships, as well as the European Championships on home roads in Slovenia and Il Lombardia, where he was chasing a sixth straight win. 

"Of course, this isn't the way I wanted my season to finish," Pogačar said. "Right now, the most important thing is to recover properly and give my body the time it needs.

"It has been a season with many special moments and I'm proud of what we achieved together. Now I'll focus on getting healthy, supporting the guys from home, and coming back next year ready for what's ahead."

UAE medical director Dr Adrian Rotunno said Pogačar's recovery following surgery was progressing well but stressed that there was no reason to accelerate the process in an attempt to return before the end of the season.

The combination of the concussion, cervical fracture and collarbone injury means Pogačar will follow a structured rehabilitation programme, including continued neurological monitoring as part of his concussion recovery.

"There is no benefit in accelerating that process simply to meet a racing deadline," Rotunno said. "Removing the pressure allows Tadej to focus entirely on his recovery."

It means an extraordinary 2026 campaign ends earlier than Pogačar had planned.

Before the Vuelta crash, he had won Strade Bianche, Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de Suisse before claiming a record equalling fifth Tour de France title.

His only defeat of the season before the Vuelta came at Paris-Roubaix, where Wout van Aert beat him to victory. Pogačar had entered the Vuelta looking to complete his collection of Grand Tour victories.

Instead, Pogačar season ends prematurely, but with his longer term future settled.

"Tadej has been central to the journey and development of this team, and we are extremely proud that this relationship will continue through 2032," Gianetti said.