Blow for Tadej Pogacar as world champion's trusted personal soigneur departs UAE Team Emirates
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates - XRG have been dealt a quiet but meaningful blow to the core of Tadej Pogacar’s inner circle, with long-serving personal soigneur Joseba Elguezabal leaving the squad to join Athletic Club’s backroom staff.
Elguezabal, 44, has been one of the closest day-to-day figures around the reigning world champion since Pogacar first arrived at the Emirati setup. His departure marks the latest example of cycling expertise crossing over into elite football, continuing a trend that has emerged across the past two seasons.
A key figure in Pogacar’s camp moves on
Elguezabal’s switch to football comes amid a broader pattern of crossover between the two worlds. Visma director Merijn Zeeman left the Dutch WorldTour squad to join AZ Alkmaar, part of the wider trend of cycling staff transitioning into elite football. Similarly, former Pogacar performance coach Inigo San Millan returned to his roots by joining Athletic Club as director of performance.
For UAE, however, this latest transition cuts far closer to home. Elgezabal has been a constant presence at Pogacar’s side at races, routinely the first member of staff to reach him at the finish line — a role that, in cycling, extends well beyond straightforward logistical support. His familiarity with the rider’s routines, physical cues, mood and immediate recovery needs made him one of the most trusted individuals in the Slovenian’s environment.
Sources inside UAE described to AS the offer from Athletic Club as “a unique opportunity” for Elguezabal’s professional trajectory. He leaves behind a very small and stable circle built around Pogacar, with figures such as press officer Luke Maguire also forming part of the same trusted bubble.
A subtle shift in Pogacar’s inner circle
Although soigneurs rarely make headlines, their absence is felt immediately inside a team environment. Replacing someone so embedded in Pogacar’s day-to-day rhythm — from finish-line routines to recovery management — presents UAE with a delicate task at a time when marginal gains and micro-processes have never been more decisive.
Elguezabal will now immerse himself fully in football, trading post-stage duties for life inside Athletic’s technical setup. For Pogacar and UAE, the focus shifts to integrating a successor seamlessly as their world champion prepares for yet another season carrying the heaviest expectations in the sport.
As Athletic celebrate another strategic hire, UAE Team Emirates must rebuild a crucial support position — all while ensuring the stability of the environment that has underpinned Pogacar’s success.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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Davide11-11-2026 - some of lidl-treks retention and recruiting has been puzzling in the mens and womens teams.Davide11-11-2026
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