“I’ll leave it up in the air” - Abel Balderstone responds to UAE transfer speculation at Tour de France
Cycling
Abel Balderstone was again one of the Spanish protagonists of stage 3 of the 2026 Tour de France. The Caja Rural-Seguros RGA rider made the day’s break, once more showing his attacking instincts on a brutally demanding stage before being reeled in by the peloton in the decisive phase.
After crossing the line, the Catalan acknowledged the effort his move had required. “It felt long,” he admitted candidly to Esports 3, assessing a break that stayed alive for much of the route and forced the favourites’ teams to keep a high tempo to control the race.
Balderstone was one of the day’s most active riders, seizing another chance to shine in the world’s biggest race. Although the win was ultimately decided among the general classification contenders, the Spaniard met his brief by giving his team visibility and confirming his strong run of form.
However, beyond his ride, one of the most anticipated questions in the mixed zone concerned his future. In recent weeks, rumours have gathered pace linking the Spanish climber with UAE Team Emirates-XRG for next season, a move that would represent a major step forward in his career.
🎙️ Abel Balderstone ha entrat a l'escapada i no desmenteix el seu fitxatge per l'UAE:
— Esport3 (@esport3) July 6, 2026
🔸 "Se m'ha fet llarg"
🔸 "Ho deixo en l'aire, és un tema dels periodistes"#Tour3Cat
🔴 En directe per TV3 i @som3cat
📲 https://t.co/0VACUXgp93 pic.twitter.com/FQWuw0sxj3
The future could mean racing alongside Tadej Pogacar
Balderstone stopped short of confirming or denying those reports, choosing instead to keep things vague. “I’ll leave it up in the air, that’s for the journalists,” he replied with a smile when asked about a potential move to the powerhouse Emirati squad.
A brief statement, but enough to fuel speculation that has been circulating in the peloton for some time. The Spaniard’s recent performances have not gone unnoticed, and several WorldTour teams are understood to be tracking his progress closely.
For now, Balderstone prefers to keep his focus on the road. After another breakaway in the Tour and with the race entering increasingly demanding phases, the Spanish rider continues to rack up high-profile kilometres while letting time reveal where he will ride in 2027. His answer, far from quashing the rumours, has only stoked them further.
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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