UAE strengthen roster with Caja Rural standout through 2029

The 26-year-old Spaniard becomes the team’s second confirmed new arrival for next season after Marco Frigo, whose move from NSN Cycling Team was announced earlier this week.

Balderstone arrives after two seasons in which his stock has risen considerably. He won the Spanish national time trial title in 2025 and has backed that up with another solid campaign this year, finishing fourth overall at O Gran Camiño before completing his first Tour de France this summer, where he finished 47th overall.

A strong climber with a good time trial and an improving stage racing profile, he gives UAE another rider capable of working deep into difficult races while still having the scope to chase results of his own.

“For me, joining UAE Team Emirates-XRG is a dream that I’ve had since I was a kid,” Balderstone said in the team’s announcement.

“I’m really excited and highly motivated to begin this new project, where I’m looking forward to growing as a rider alongside the team.”

Team principal Mauro Gianetti highlighted Balderstone’s progression as one of the main reasons for bringing him into the squad.

“He is a rider who has shown good progression over the past few seasons,” Gianetti said. “We believe he has the qualities to fit very well into our structure and also the potential to continue developing.”

Balderstone’s arrival follows the signing of Marco Frigo, who will join UAE Team Emirates-XRG from NSN Cycling Team at the start of 2027 on a two year deal through the end of 2028.

The 26-year-old Italian has spent the past four seasons in the Israel Premier Tech structure, now NSN, and has gradually developed into a reliable option on hilly and mountainous terrain.

Frigo and Balderstone are the first new pieces of a 2027 roster that UAE have already been shaping for some time. Alongside recruitment, the team has moved to secure much of its existing core on long term deals. Isaac del Toro has extended through 2031, Brandon McNulty is tied to the team until 2030, while Florian Vermeersch, Nils Politt and Jhonatan Narváez have all renewed through the end of 2029.

That leaves a significant part of UAE’s supporting structure already in place several seasons ahead, and there could soon be an even longer commitment at the centre of it.

Tadej Pogačar is currently under contract through the end of 2030, but Daniel Benson reported on Wednesday that the Slovenian has agreed terms on a further extension through 2032. UAE have yet to officially confirm the deal, although Pogačar's agent Alex Carera had already confirmed that talks were taking place with team president Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri and team principal Mauro Gianetti.