"I'm learning a lot from him" - First Tadej Pogacar, then Juan Ayuso, is the next star of UAE Team Emirates?

There’s no denying that UAE Team Emirates had an extraordinary season, but what about the rest of their team? The UAE Team Emirates squad had some incredible moments throughout 2024, and their superiority was marked by dominance across multiple disciplines and the historic season of Tadej Pogacar. Among their standout riders was 20-year-old Swiss prodigy Jan Christen, who has bold aspirations to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

"In Switzerland, they're not saying yet that I'll win the Tour. But they're starting to get to know me better and know that I can eventually compete in major tours," said Christen, confident in his rapid development.

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Christen compares himself to Pogacar, both as a friend and a mentor. "He's a super good friend and a very good person on and off the bike. I'm learning a lot from him," he shared.

Looking ahead, Christen’s goals align with those of Pogacar, focusing on development as a tour rider. "Just like Tadej, I want to score in major tours and classics in the future. But in the first few years, we'll mainly focus on my development as a tour rider," he explained.

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With plans to compete in his first WorldTour race at Paris-Nice, Christen has a busy schedule for 2025, "In the 1-week races, I would like to get the chance to go for a classification. But that of course depends on my own condition and that of my teammates," he noted.

Looking further ahead, Christen has his sights set on the Vuelta in 2025. "Just like Pogacar, Ayuso, and Del Toro, I want to taste my first grand tour in the Vuelta in 2025. With the goal of trying to win a stage."

Physically, Christen is working on his climbing strength, aiming to gain muscle mass. "I want more muscle mass and weigh around 63 to 64 kg. That way I will have more power on climbs," he said. Inspired by Pogacar’s own climbing prowess, he said, "Tadej is also a crazy climber with his 69 kg. So you don't have to be super skinny to climb fast."

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