Tadej Pogacar's new contract first proposal - Initial negotiations detail reportedly saw UAE want one thing before compromising
CyclingMonday, 07 September 2026 at 15:30
When UAE Team Emirates - XRG first sat down with Tadej Pogacar's representatives to renew the Slovenian's contract, their first proposal involved one specific detail before a compromise was found when the deal was signed and sealed last weekend.
The Tour de France winner has officially signed a new contract with UAE, prolonging their relationship until the end of the 2032 season. Already contracted until 2030, the new deal adds two further years.
With little stumbling blocks to the negotiations, Pogacar's agent Alex Carera suggested before the Vuelta a Espana that just some minor perks and finite details of the contract were to be negotiated.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Ciro Scognamiglio, one detail about the initial negotiations was that UAE proposed an extension until 2034, but ultimately settled for a renewal until 2032. If Pogacar was to sign a deal until 2034, that would keep him at the team and racing until he's 36-years-old and in his 16th year with the team.
Tadej Pogacar
UAE wanted Pogacar until 2034
“From the beginning, this team has felt like home. We’ve grown together over the years and shared incredible moments, so I’m very happy to extend my contract until 2032,” said Pogacar after the deal was made public.
“There are still many things I want to achieve in this sport, and I believe this is the right place to do it,” he noted. “I’m very grateful for the trust the team has placed in me, and I’m excited about what we can continue building together.”
Coinciding with the confirmation that Pogacar would not return to racing, the team wished him well in his recovery following a brutal crash at the Vuelta a Espana. Falling during stage 8 while in command of the red jersey battle, Pogacar broke his collarbone, C7 vertebrae and a concussion.
Pogacar ends season after Vuelta crash
Undergoing surgery last week, the Slovenian won't pin a race number until the 2027 season. A blow to the rider, he misses out on defending his World and European champion's jerseys as well as Il Lombardia among his late-season goals.
Drawing a line under his 2026, the Vuelta disappointment is lightened by some remarkable performances this season. He won Strade Bianche, Milano Sanremo, Tour of Flanders and Liege-Bastogne-Liege in a full throttle spring. His move to stage racing saw him win the Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse for the first time before he dominated the Tour de France, winning his fifth yellow jersey.
Contracted for six more seasons, his new deal will take him through to the end of the 2032 season, notably including two potential Olympic Games participations and six more potential Tour de France bids.
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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