"I have good support in the team" - Jhonatan Narvaez on Tadej Pogacar, 2025 Tour de France and difference between UAE & INEOS

In what could low key turn out to be one of the most important signings in the entire window, Jhonatan Narvaez has swapped the INEOS Grenadiers for UAE Team Emirates in 2025 and the Ecuadorian is incredibly motivated to make the most of his move.

At the December, UAE Team Emirates training camp, Narvaez spoke to Bici.Pro, explaining his determination. "It's the second training camp we've done with the team and I felt welcome since the one in Abu Dhabi . I know many of my teammates, who have raced with me before," he begins. "I have a good relationship with Joxean Matxin. There are some masseurs I know, so I felt welcome and the truth is that in a team this makes the difference."

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Although UAE Team Emirates are riding the crest of a wave at the moment, Narvaez's former employers have been going through something of a slump. So are there any notable differences between the two team's set ups that Narvaez has spotted? "There is very little difference between the two teams. Both have very good aspects. Great material, great coaches, they are constantly trying to improve and that is a good thing," he answers diplomatically. "I can only tell you that one team is working in its own way on a type of path and the other one goes its own way, but both achieve the same result which is winning."

In 2025 though, Narvaez is keen to move up through the levels and take the next step. "I hope to take another step forward. Whether it means winning or doing well, the important thing is to continue working on the same line. What I want is to work well, I have good support in the team and I noticed this right away . So I am very motivated," he explains. "As you can see, it is not a team where it is easy to find all the opportunities you want. Anyone who is a winner dreams of doing it as many times as possible, putting them in a row on a board, but here it is difficult. So the mentality is obviously to win, but you can do it when you have your chances."

"The rest of the time, we will have to play tactically to let a teammate win. I think that, at least in the races where Pogacar is not there, we still do not have a clear favorite or a designated leader and this is positive. However, I cannot say that I am a leader, I will have to earn it. Otherwise, someone else will do it," he concludes. "In the first part of the year, I'm really excited to do the classics. The cobbles and then also the Ardennes . Then the Tour de France to support Tadej Pogacar. That's pretty much it."

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