CONFIRMED: Tadej Pogacar’s UAE confirms transfer of Caja Rural climber as they expand mountain support with three-year deal
CyclingWednesday, 19 August 2026 at 11:42
Abel Balderstone is set for a new chapter in his career with UAE Team Emirates XRG. The 26-year-old Catalan leaves Caja Rural-Seguros RGA to join one of the most powerful structures in the international peloton, on a three-year deal that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2029 season.
The Emirati squad is backing a rider who has shown steady progression in recent seasons and established himself as a specialist in stage races and mountainous terrain. His profile, particularly competitive on demanding, elevation-heavy routes, gives the team another piece to strengthen its roster for the coming years.
Balderstone enjoyed one of the most significant seasons of his career in 2025, when he was crowned Spanish time trial champion. The victory underlined his qualities in a discipline that demands consistency and the ability to sustain high tempo over long efforts, and also showcased his evolution within the professional peloton.
His growth has continued through 2026. The Catalan finished fourth overall at O Gran Camiño and then took another key step by completing his first Tour de France this summer. The experience allowed him to bank racing kilometres and learning at the highest level before making the jump to the WorldTour.
✍🏼👋 Welcome, Abel!
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) August 19, 2026
We’re pleased to announce the signing of Abel Balderstone, with the Catalan climber joining UAE Team Emirates-XRG on a deal through to the end of 2029 🤝
🗣️ “Joining UAE Team Emirates-XRG is a dream that I’ve had since I was a kid. I’m really excited and… pic.twitter.com/JGeft9mFv9
Balderstone grows by leaps and bounds
“Joining UAE Team Emirates-XRG is a dream I’ve had since I was a kid. I’m really excited and highly motivated to start this new project,” said Balderstone. He also stressed his intention to “grow as a rider with the team,” learn from his teammates, and use the environment to “show the best version” of himself.
From within the Emirati structure, Mauro Gianetti, CEO and Team Principal, highlighted the Catalan’s progression and future potential. “We believe he has the qualities to fit very well into our structure and also the potential to keep developing,” he explained.
With this move, Balderstone faces a major turning point in his career. After consolidating at Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, the Spanish time trial champion now has the opportunity to continue growing with one of the sport’s global reference points.
Meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar appears to have taken the decisive step to extend his deal with UAE Team Emirates-XRG in a surprising turn of events. After we reported on Tuesday that negotiations between both parties and the remaining details to iron out, the major development is that the agreement now seems fully sealed.
That is according to Daniel Benson, a journalist specialising in the transfer market, who has gone a step further than previous reports and is convinced Pogacar has already signed his renewal.
“I’m convinced the deal is already done: Tadej Pogacar has extended his contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG through the end of 2032. We’re just waiting for the official confirmation from the team,” says Benson.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Yeah, exactly... you just can't handle the truth. I just don't understand why you hate His Royal Infalible Pogness???PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- One more thing they talked about: Carera did not disclose all the details, while Benson cites the possibility of discussions about copyrights and the use of Pogačar's own advertising material, used to promote his own brand and products. The Tadej Pogačar official logo is “T” and “P” - identifying him. The MET helmets already use this logo. All I can say; We are watcing a legend being "born" and his legacy will go on for decades.PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- Die for your country? What nonsense Raf! I understand that that is a quote from Wilfred Owens anti war poem but you have used it out of context here.Cyclingsbestfan19-08-2026
- seems like he has no plans to retire early. that probably ends all the potential burnout rumors after last year‘s tdf.Ketterechts19-08-2026
- What kind of argument is that?????? He went as deep for the Tour last year and still contemplated doing the Vuelta before Worlds He’s never skipped MSR for having gone deep a previous year. Please provide some back up to this claim, also about the criticism aside from some irrelevant posters like us.Jumpyjohn19-08-2026
- And yet, some people go out of their way to put him down. Don’t need to remind of some of the comments before he came out of his dry patch.Jumpyjohn19-08-2026
- Oh boy, don’t push that finger too precisely.Jumpyjohn19-08-2026
- It doesn’t matter, there are people like that in both worlds. Funny how nobody mentioned Tadej, who put « family » loyalty over country. Imagine (would be) soldiers would do the same, well, some did, were called traitors BUT they did change the course of history by prematurely ending stupid wars and practically NOBODY 20-30y later dares criticisethem the way their leaders back then did. You should represent your country, for whatever, IF you believe it’s for the RIGHT reasons and the balance of reasons for/against is ok for you PERSONALLY. Jonas is no different to Tadej in that respect, both have their reasons. Besides, as today again shows very well, NEVER confuse country and (temporary) leaders no matter how much people try to pressure you with guilt. In that respect, Belgium’s federation and all its demands on riders is a very interesting case to review.Jumpyjohn19-08-2026
- Can’t disagree there, no matter how much I appreciate Prim. At some point you have to make way for new generations, in fact, you should be helping not hindering.Jumpyjohn19-08-2026
- There was a lot of criticism for Pog for putting loyalty to his partner first on that occasion (and probably missing out on a huge boost to his international profile, Olympic glory etc. ) But the previous year he had gone so deep at the Glasgow Worlds that he had to be assisted off the podium, and he road that Worlds time trial while obviously still exhausted. So he is not a good point of comparison, if you insist on comparing.Hills3319-08-2026
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