Tadej Pogacar gets new teammate as UAE Team Emirates sign Julius Johansen: "He can add strength to the team"

Last week, we reported that Julius Johansen was set to sign with UAE Team Emirates for the 2025 season. The team has now officially confirmed this, announcing that the Danish rider has signed a one-year deal.

Johansen, 25, last competed at the WorldTour level in 2023 with Intermarché-Wanty, and he is the latest addition to a UAE Emirates roster that will begin the 2025 season with big crowd of 29 riders.

“We are very happy to welcome Julius,” team manager Mauro Gianetti said in a press release. “He already has a lot of experience at WorldTour level. In addition, with his profile, he can add strength to the team when it comes to supporting our leaders.”

Johansen expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. “It is a dream come true to join such a professional and successful team,” he said. “I know that this is the perfect place for me to grow and develop as a rider with the guidance of the experts within the team. Being part of such a winning culture is truly inspiring. I am looking forward to helping the team achieve many victories. I can’t wait to get started and meet everyone. I am ready to give it my all.”

Johansen was seen as a promising talent early in his career. In 2017, he became junior world champion and won Olympia's Tour in 2018 as a first-year U23 rider. Riding for ColoQuick at the time, Johansen was teammates with Jonas Vingegaard, his team leader Tadej Pogacar’s arch rival.

Despite his potential, Johansen struggled to make a significant impact at the WorldTour level. After not receiving a contract extension from Intermarché-Wanty following the 2023 season, he sought to relaunch his career with Sabgal/Anicolor.

Johansen joined the continental team in March 2024 after a roster spot opened up following the departure of Antwan Tolhoek, who had been dismissed due to a positive doping test. With this move to UAE Team Emirates, Johansen hopes to revive his career and contribute to one of the most successful teams in professional cycling, who through Tadej Pogacar won the triple crown in 2024.