"It’s complicated and I don’t think he will come to us" - UAE Team Emirates rule out Jasper Philipsen return

A big looks to be ahead for Jasper Philipsen. With the Alpecin-Deceuninck star in the final year of his contract, UAE Team Emirates were thought to be one of the best-placed teams to secure his signature. According to team boss Mauro Gianetti however, that could be unlikely. 

Philipsen previously rode for UAE Team Emirates in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, before leaving for the Alpecin set up in 2021. Since making that move, it's fair to say that the Belgian has gone from strength to strength and is now not only a faster sprinter, as proved by his numerous victories, but also a much more well-rounded rider, as showcased by his two successive 2nd placed finishes at Paris-Roubaix behind his teammate, Mathieu van der Poel.

"We are one of the teams interested but I think it’s complicated and I don’t think he will come to us." UAE Team Emirates boss Gianetti explains of the situation surrounding Philipsen in conversation with GCN. Instead of looking at making signings, the team are focusing currently on securing the services of some of their most loyal domestiques such as Rafal Majka.

"We’ve not signed but we have agreed," Gianetti updates on the renewal of the ever-reliable Polish super domestique, who is currently proving his worth as a key cog in Tadej Pogacar's Maglia Rosa charge at the 2024 Giro d'Italia. "We agreed before the Giro that he would stay with us. Maybe one or two years but we’ll decide that after the Giro between him and us."

Although both Mikkel Bjerg and Tim Wellens have already extended, when it comes to other notable UAE Team Emirates names soon to be out of contract however, there is much less news surrounding the likes of, Finn Fisher-Black and Marc Hirschi. "We’ve not decided yet if he’s staying or not. We’ll decide in June," Gianetti said of Hirschi, who has been heavily linked with the Tudor Pro Cycling Team. 

"It’s also a question of opportunity to see if Finn could have great opportunities staying with us or if he stays with us and it’s about sacrifice. It’s a question to see how he can fit in the team and if there’s real space for his value," he says of Fisher-Black. "It’s a discussion on the table and it’s one that will be decided later on in the season. We will wait."