The UAE Team Emirates cycling team has secured immense success and stable development with a new contract extension for leader - Slovenian Tadej Pogačar until 2030. Team director Matar Suhail Al-Yahyauni expressed his views at a press conference in Abu Dhabi, where the team's achievements from the past year were discussed, including a recent victory at the World Championship. Highlighting the importance of the educational academy program to discover new talents, Al-Yahyauni spoke about the participation prospects of three Emirati cyclists in world competitions next year.
Having become a star after joining UAE Team Emirates in 2019, Tadej Pogačar can be named one of the most outstanding professional cyclists: 88 wins in various races, including classic one-day events and stage races. In the current season, Pogačar has been recognized as the best UCI cyclist for the fourth consecutive year, demonstrating his outstanding performance with victories at the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and also in races such as Strade Bianche and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
Pogačar unexpectedly set a record for himself, achieving 25 wins in professional races within 58 days in a single season. No one had achieved this since 1987 across the trio of Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and World Championship - only Steven Roche managed this feat. Pogačar himself expressed his emotions: "I am proud to extend my contract with UAE Team Emirates. Over the past five years, this team has become my home, and I cannot imagine myself anywhere else. The best moments of my career have come from working together with this team, thanks to the support of each member, allowing me to compete at the highest level."
