OFFICIAL: UAE call up young Italian sprinter from development team in vote of confidence despite injury-disrupted season
CyclingThursday, 20 August 2026 at 11:34
UAE Team Emirates - XRG will have another sprint option in 2027 after they confirmed the signing of Davide Stella, turning professional as he moves up for their Development team UAE Gen Z on a three-year-contract.
The Italian, just 20-years-old, joins their WorldTour setup after coming to their development team in 2025. Also an active track rider, he brings a strong engine with a fast finish to their ranks already burgeoning with potential.
At UAE Gen Z, he's picked up three UCI level victories, including the final stage of the Tour of Sharjah and a stage in the Volta ao Alentejo last year. This season has been less fruitful as he took one victory at the Volta a Portugal do Futuro (2.2U).
Stella says deal "means a lot"
A crash while representing the WorldTour team at the AlUla Tour in January pumped the brakes on his momentum, with just the stage win at the U23 Volta a Portugal do Futuro and a disappointing Giro Next Gen campaign to show for his season.
Speaking upon the confirmation of his step up the ranks, Stella admitted the difficult season but noted his hard work to change his fortunes as he claimed the time was right to move up.
“This means a lot to me. It has always been my ambition to make the step from the Gen Z team to the WorldTour. I feel that my time with the development team has prepared me for the next step in my career.”
Mauro Gianetti
Mauro Gianetti reacts to signing
"It has been a difficult season, but I have worked hard to turn things around. I am incredibly grateful to the team and so many amazing people around me for making this possible."
Mauro Gianetti insisted time is on Stella's side next season, confirming that he will ride a less pressurised schedule as he highlighted Stella's case as an example of the team's pathway from development to WorldTour.
“He is still very young, so the priority is to give him the time and space to develop, as a rider and as a person. His promotion is a new example of what we want with the Gen Z Project: to offer talented young riders a clear route to the WorldTour team.”
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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