“Tadej Pogacar is incredibly down-to-earth, he treated me as one of his own” – UAE's 2006-born Spanish starlet taken under the wing of all-conquering world champion

He’s just 19, but Adrià Pericas already sounds like a rider who belongs in cycling’s biggest team. The young Spaniard has capped off a breakout season with UAE Team Emirates - XRG by reflecting on the surreal moment he found himself training alongside Tadej Pogacar — and discovering that the world’s most dominant rider is, in his words, “an incredibly down-to-earth person.”

“We met in Dubai. What surprised me most was his humility. He’s a really good person and treated me like one of the team,” Pericas told MARCA during the post-season criterium in Saitama.

Pericas’s rise has been fast but measured. After developing in UAE’s Gen Z feeder setup, he stepped up to the professional ranks this year — and wasted no time making an impression. A stage win at the Istrian Spring Trophy, followed by top-ten results at the Tour du Rwanda and Giro d’Italia U23, underlined his potential as one of Spain’s brightest young prospects.

“I started calmly, without pressure. But I saw that I had the level — and the team saw it too,” he said. As well as other riders such as Matthias Schwarzbacher and Mateo Ramirez, Pericas had a chance to shine this year in his level but also with the elite team.

The result was one of the longest contracts in modern cycling: a deal with UAE through 2030. For the Catalan, it’s not just a show of faith, but a reason to breathe easy. “It gives me great peace of mind. I know the step up is big — it’s like climbing two rungs at once — but if you do it gradually, it’s possible.”

Born in Tona in 2006, Pericas is already a familiar name within Spain’s new generation. His attacking flair and all-round ability first caught attention in 2023, when an image of him keeping pace with Mathieu van der Poel at the Glasgow World Championships went viral. “I’m an all-rounder, I can handle everything. I like aggressive racing,” he explained. “With this contract, my head is calm and my legs can do the work.”

The young Catalan admits his dream race is the Volta a Catalunya, the one he grew up watching from the roadside. “I dream of being on the start line there. It would be special,” he said.

For now, he’s focusing on the next steps — with Pogacar’s example serving as the perfect benchmark. “He’s an incredible person and a phenomenal rider. Seeing how he behaves day to day is inspiring,” Pericas added.

With his first professional victory, a long-term UAE deal, and the respect of the sport’s biggest name already secured, Pericas looks set to be one of cycling’s brightest stories of 2026.