Tadej Pogacar new contract reportedly signed - UAE leader has extended his deal until 2032 after details emerged of negotiations
CyclingWednesday, 19 August 2026 at 09:15
Tadej Pogacar appears to have taken the decisive step to extend his deal with UAE Team Emirates-XRG in a surprising turn of events. After we reported on Tuesday that negotiations between both parties and the remaining details to iron out, the major development is that the agreement now seems fully sealed.
That is according to Daniel Benson, a journalist specialising in the transfer market, who has gone a step further than previous reports and is convinced Pogacar has already signed his renewal.
“I’m convinced the deal is already done: Tadej Pogacar has extended his contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG through the end of 2032. We’re just waiting for the official confirmation from the team,” says Benson.
In other words, Tadej Pogacar is believed to have extended his contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG through the end of 2032. The only missing piece to make it official is the Emirati team’s press release.
Tadej Pogacar, global star
The deal was in motion
On Tuesday, it was reported that Pogacar had already decided to negotiate an extension with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, even though his current deal runs until 2030.
His agent, Alex Carera, confirmed money was not the issue and that both sides would meet in Monaco to negotiate the details.
"We have a meeting with the team management this week. Tadej is satisfied, but there are still a few points that need to be discussed," Carera told Daniel Benson.
“So far, we have discussed an extension until 2031. It is not about the money, but about a number of special clauses."
Pogacar wanted 'special clauses'
The key update then was that Pogacar wanted to include several special clauses in his new contract. These would include potential bonuses, greater control over his race programme, and even the use of a private jet for certain transfers. Initially, the idea was to extend at least until 2031.
Carera also made it clear that the intention to renew was there, while warning the deal could take weeks to finalise because this was not a standard renewal. So yesterday the situation was one of open negotiation, with Pogacar and UAE keen to continue together, but without a definitive agreement yet.
“The intention to extend is certainly there. We are meeting in Monaco on Friday morning, but we are all taking our time with it. Maybe even a month, because it is not a standard contract."
Now comes the major twist: according to Daniel Benson, that process appears to have concluded and the extension through the end of 2032 is already agreed, pending only the official announcement from UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
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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- Mads vs Wout will be interestingmij19-08-2026
- I wonder if he will throw in gravel races? maybe even CX? It was rumored that he wanted to ride the gravel world championships last year, and even a cross race.mij19-08-2026
- I'd love to have his "dry patch". Last year was one of his worst and he still won a stage in the Giro and TdF.mij19-08-2026
- What's the problem now? They bought a versatile but not excellent at anything good ridervappaxbipmv19-08-2026
- what's all the patriotic BS about anyways here? the point is that nationality-based races have sort of died out in road cycling since many years. back in the days the tdf rosters were nationality-based and they rode in the same jersey. but that is long gone. tell me about any race in road cycling where racing for one's country objectively means something ... an exception maybe being the olympics because you contribute to your country's medal total. but also here, the fame goes mostly to the individual rider. there is no history in nationality-based races in cycling. there is no 'slovenia has won the world championships in road cycling three times in a row'. there is only 'tadej won it (well, will have won it) three times in a row'. so please stop talking about patriotic duties in a discipline where nobody cares about this. you could run the same argument for hockey or many other sports. why do the NHL pros not run for their country in hockey world championships? they don't because in their pro leagues nobody cares. they continue their play-off season over there. according to the argumentation of some of you guys here, all of them would have to be called un-patriotic. heck, back in the days the US even sent their college boys to the basketball olympics instead of the pros. bottom line, nobody cares in cycling about nationalities. cycling races are individual matters. and you cannot impose some patriotic whatever to something where this simply hasn't mattered for ages.Ketterechts19-08-2026
- It was a sarcastic comment in response to Mistermaumau's ridiculous comment about wishing for war to prove loyalty to one's country
Rafionain-Glas19-08-2026 - We also have to read "between the lines. " One of his clauses is "greater control over his race programme." That tells me a lot. Pogi has said on many occasions, that he prefers one day races over stage races. In one day races you give it all you've got, especially if it's a famous one day race like the Monuments or other historical classics, where all the best cyclists show up. No thinkig and calculating about the race that happened yesterday and the race that will be tomorrow or the next day, like in stage races. It's that one day, when you leave your heart on the road. That's what Pogi loves. So my take is: When Pogi will win another 2 to 3 TdF it will be over for him. That's where his clause "greater control over his race programme" will be impemented. That's why he's preparing Del Toro, to take over the Giro, Tour and Vuelta races, and Pogi will concentrate only on one day races in his "old age." He will put on more muscle and weight and race most of the classics. I can hardly wait those days to come!!!PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- Yeah, exactly... you just can't handle the truth. I just don't understand why you hate His Royal Infalible Pogness???PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- One more thing they talked about: Carera did not disclose all the details, while Benson cites the possibility of discussions about copyrights and the use of Pogačar's own advertising material, used to promote his own brand and products. The Tadej Pogačar official logo is “T” and “P” - identifying him. The MET helmets already use this logo. All I can say; We are watcing a legend being "born" and his legacy will go on for decades.PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- Die for your country? What nonsense Raf! I understand that that is a quote from Wilfred Owens anti war poem but you have used it out of context here.Cyclingsbestfan19-08-2026
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