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Tadej Pogačar has signed a long-term contract extension with UAE Team Emirates, as he continues to dominate stage races.
The 22-year-old Slovenian celebrates his victory in his first race of the season, the UAE Tour, where he was able to defend against scathing attacks from Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers).
On Tuesday March 2, the United Arab Emirates team announced that Pogačar, winner of the Tour de France 2020 at just 21, will extend his current contract with the team until 2026.
Pogačar has only raced at WorldTour level since 2019, but has already extended his contract with the United Arab Emirates three times as he has achieved five stage victories since reaching the top level.
Team Director and CEO Mauro Gianetti said: “We are happy to announce the new extension of Tadej’s contract with us. He firmly believes in our project as we do in his abilities.
“This is already the third time that we have extended his contract, which shows his commitment to the project we are building here in the United Arab Emirates. We create a real group, united, with an atmosphere that I can’t remember from all my years in cycling. I am particularly proud of it.
Pogačar entered WorldTour level in 2019 and immediately unleashed his potential, winning the Volta ao Algarve and Tour of California in his first year, then finishing third in his first Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España, this season.
Since then, Pogačar has never ceased to impress, as he won the Tour de France in 2020 on his first attempt and then was a major protagonist of the Ardennes Classics, finishing third at Liège-Bastogne-Liège to close his season.
This year, Pogačar continued to deliver, beating Adam Yates to a stage victory in the UAE Tour and securing the overall title in the process.
He said: “I feel at home on this team. There is a special atmosphere between the management, the riders and the staff and it is a good environment to be in. The team shows a lot of confidence and confidence in me, which I am grateful for, and I work hard to show that when I run alongside my teammates. Hope we can have a lot more successful seasons together in the years to come.
Pogacar’s season is once again built around the Tour de France, as he will continue his season this weekend at Strade Bianche before heading to Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour du Pays Basque.
After another attempt at the Ardennes Classics, Pogačar will follow the traditional route of the Tour via the Critérium du Dauphiné.
He is also expected to return to the Vuelta later in the season.
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UAE team president Matar Al Yabhouni said, “Tadej is our present and our future. He is a rider who managed to win the Tour de France despite his young age and who nevertheless managed to withstand the pressure of such great success. He showed a lot of composure and determination to win the UAE Tour, a race that gets bigger year after year and is of obvious importance to us. I am sure that we will continue to achieve important successes together in the future. ”
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