UAE secure six more riders after Pogacar and Del Toro extensions

Laengen will continue through 2027, while Großschartner and Johansen have signed until the end of 2028. The Oliveira brothers and Novak have all agreed deals through 2029.

The six renewals add further clarity to UAE’s plans for next season, with another sizeable part of the squad now secured beyond 2026. Several of the squad’s leading names had already committed their futures to the team.

Tadej Pogačar recently extended his contract through 2032, Isaac del Toro is tied down until the end of 2031, while Jhonatan Narváez will remain with UAE through 2029.

Laengen is the longest serving rider among the six announced on Wednesday. The Norwegian joined UAE in 2017 and has spent much of his time with the team working in support of its Grand Tour leaders.

Großschartner joined in 2023 and has since become a regular in UAE’s stage race line ups, particularly in the mountains. He was also part of the team that supported Tadej Pogačar on his way to a fifth Tour de France victory.

Johansen arrived two years later and has gradually found a place in the team’s wider race programme.

Rui and Ivo Oliveira have both been with UAE since 2019. Rui has increasingly picked up results of his own in recent seasons, while both brothers have featured heavily in the team’s Classics and sprint groups.

Novak, meanwhile, will stay until 2029. Since joining UAE in 2023, the Slovenian has become a trusted presence in races where the team needs to control proceedings on hilly and mountainous terrain.

The contract extensions come alongside a number of changes to UAE’s roster for next season.

Marco Frigo will join from NSN Cycling on a two year contract, while Abel Balderstone has signed through 2029 after leaving Caja Rural Seguros RGA. Davide Stella will also make the step up from UAE Team Emirates Gen Z, with the 20-year-old Italian signing a three year deal with the WorldTour team.

Pierre Gautherat could yet be added to that group. The 23-year-old Decathlon CMA CGM rider has been linked with a move to UAE, although a deal has yet to be announced.

There will be movement in the other direction too. Igor Arrieta has signed a three year deal with Lidl-Trek through 2029, while Juan Sebastián Molano will join Lotto-Intermarché on a two year contract after eight seasons with UAE.

Pavel Sivakov is also expected to leave, with Decathlon CMA CGM his reported destination, while Rune Herregodts has already indicated that he does not expect to remain with UAE beyond the end of the season.