“If Tadej Pogacar is at the start, he is of course the boss”: UAE prospect still eyeing his own opportunities in 2026

At a team shaped around the presence of Tadej Pogacar, clarity of role is essential. For Jan Christen, looking ahead to 2026 has meant embracing that reality, while also identifying where his own path can continue to open up inside one of cycling’s most stacked rosters at UAE Team Emirates - XRG.

“If Tadej is at the start, he is of course the boss,” Christen said in conversation with In de Leiderstrui. It is a simple acknowledgement of hierarchy at UAE, but not one that closes the door on ambition.

Now approaching his third full season as a professional, Christen is keen to capitalise on a winter he feels has set him up well. “I’ve taken another step and that’s something I want to build on at the start of the season,” he explained, pointing to renewed confidence after a disrupted 2025.

That confidence is being channelled into a clear spring focus. “The Ardennes Classics are my favourite races,” Christen said, identifying the block that best suits his punch and racing instincts. After spending much of last spring injured, simply being present across March and April already represents a step forward.

His early programme reflects that intent. “I start in AlUla, then do some races in Spain, ride Drome Ardeche, and then head to Strade Bianche, Tirreno Adriatico and Milano-Torino,” he outlined, before turning his attention fully to the Ardennes.

Within that structure, team dynamics remain straightforward. “If Tadej is at the start, I’ll do everything I can to help him,” Christen said. The flip side is equally important. “But if he’s not there, the others also get freedom,” a reality that continues to shape how young riders at UAE measure progress without needing formal leadership labels.

Beyond the classics, 2026 will also bring a new milestone. “I’m really happy that I can go to the Giro d'Italia,” Christen said, confirming his Grand Tour debut with a young UAE squad. His expectations remain grounded. “I’ll mainly be there to help the team,” he explained, before adding that he hopes to make the most of any opportunities that arise.

There is one day in particular he already has in mind. “Especially on day sixteen, because we finish in Switzerland,” he noted, a reminder that even within a support role, motivation and ambition are never far away.

Christen’s season will not end there. After the Giro, attention will shift back to one-day racing, with a second half of the year designed to reward patience and consistency. “It’s hard to pick just one race,” he said, “but I’m already really looking forward to riding San Sebastian again.”

For a UAE prospect entering 2026, the challenge is not escaping Pogacar’s orbit, but learning how to grow within it. Christen’s words suggest he understands that balance, and is ready to test it across a season that could quietly define the next phase of his career.