"A perfect opportunity to show off their successes": Rider super-agent Carera hosts an epic Gala for his clients
Cycling
A big show is set to take place this evening in Milan, Italy. And many of the biggest stars of cycling peloton such as Tadej Pogacar, Biniam Girmay, Jasper Philipsen or Isaac del Toro are among invited. The common denominator? Alex Carera's A&J All Sports Agency is working in the background on contracts of these riders. With road season on a hiatus, Carera hosts his own gala, a meetup (or a celebration) for all his clients and many other prominent personalities with good relationships to the Spaniard.
What is behind Carera's tremendous success that made him more recognized in the cycling world than some of his clients?
"Well, his extensive network is a major factor in his success," Ben Leyman, a Belgian lawyer who has been working with Carera for several years, told Sporza Daily. "He's also an intelligent man who is generous and accessible."
Carera surely doesn't hold back while organizing the event with well over 100 guests. Various unique scenes such as Tadej Pogacar winning padel tournament or Maxim Van Gils trying his hand at karaoke are not rare at this ocassion. But Leyman points out that Carera doesn't do it all just for money: "His passion for his job and his riders is also immense."
Mini-Sports Gala
2025 was another fine vintage for Carera's pack on and off the roads. Tadej Pogacar won the Tour, World and European Championships, as well as three Monuments, and together his clients combined for well over two-digit total amount of GrandTour stages.
Isaac del Toro's rise in 2025 was crowned by a Giro d'Italia stage win wearing the Maglia Rosa
"He's a flamboyant figure, well-liked, and he shows that he cares for others. A party like this is the perfect opportunity to really show off those successes," highlights Sporza journalist Jonas Van De Veire. "You can think of the show as a crazy mini-version of the Sports Gala. There are playful moments in between, like Pogacar dancing or Van Gils trying his hand at karaoke. A gala evening with a strong Italian twist, in other words."
Uijtdebroeks aims to beat Pogacar, at least in F1
Cian Uijtdebroeks is certainly among the more quiet types who won't fancy similar festivities, but even he looks forward to one part of the evening:
"I'm going to try and hide well, but the brand-new tournament with the Formula 1 simulators? That's what I'm aiming for! That way I might just beat Tadej Pogacar," Uijtdebroeks laughs loudly from Milan.
The 22-year-old Belgian is one of Carera's best clients. For him, the agent already found a way to break out of a contract twice! While his move to Movistar ahead of 2026 was much less explosive, it'll be all the more interesting to see how it works out next year. Either way, Carera will stand by his side.
"Yes, he's already meant a lot to me," Uijtdebroeks readily admits. "Carera is an emotional person who's involved with the rider. He doesn't feel like an external manager, but like a friend. I regularly receive a message before races. This way, he shows that it's about much more than just finding the right team for his riders."
Did Carera help Pogacar, or the other way?
The turn of events after Carera's arrival to the sport was quite fast. Previously, many team managers would look at rider agents through fingers - after all they are trying to squeeze every last cent of their team's budgets.
An evolution that José De Cauwer witnessed and sees unfolding before his very eyes: "We now live in a world where managers have their place. That took a long time to be accepted in cycling. Because team managers didn't like men who wanted to drive up the prize money."
But eventually, they came to acknowledge the Spaniard and others. With Tadej Pogacar under his wings, there wasn't really any other options anyway.
"It starts with the men in his portfolio," De Cauwer shares. "If you have a Pogacar, you're also better yourself and can do more. Although he certainly manages to secure some great transfers. So I understand why the competition isn't keen on him."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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