UAE Gen Z announce five riders for 2027, including Mexican prospect from Isaac del Toro’s former team
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates Gen Z have announced five new riders for the 2027 season, including Mexican junior José Emilio Rodríguez, who joins from A.R. Monex, the development structure that helped Isaac del Toro progress toward the WorldTour. The recruitment also includes Frenchman Simon Defrance, Czech rider Václav Ježek, Italian Riccardo Lorello and Spaniard Luca Martinez.
The five signings combine three riders stepping up from the junior category with two who have already competed at under-23 level. They will join UAE’s development squad as the organization continues to recruit internationally and prepare young riders for possible progression to its WorldTour team.
Rodríguez’s move is particularly notable given A.R. Monex’s role in developing Mexican riders for European racing. Del Toro raced with the Mexican development structure before joining UAE in 2023 and subsequently establishing himself at the highest level. Rodríguez will now have a similar opportunity to continue his development within a major European team’s pathway.
Defrance arrives after a strong final season as a junior. The 18-year-old won the French junior road championship and then took silver in the junior road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Montréal, finishing behind Spain’s Benjamin Noval.
Ježek, 21, is the most experienced rider among the five newcomers. After previously competing in cyclocross, the Czech shifted his focus to road racing in 2026 and won the overall classification at the Tour of Hellas. He also finished seventh overall at the Czech Tour, including two fourth-place stage finishes, before winning the West Bohemia Tour.
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Rodríguez and Lorello arrive with results at different levels
Rodríguez has spent much of 2026 racing in Europe. His results included second overall at the GP West Bohemia and second place at the UCI-ranked Trofeo Emozione. He also represented Mexico at the junior World Championships in Montréal. Other results during the season included victory at the Giro della Valdera and sixth place at the Giro della Lunigiana.
Lorello, 20, joins after racing with SC Padovani Polo Cherry Bank in Italy’s under-23 scene. He recorded two victories in 2026 and earned selection for the Italian national team at the Tour de l’Avenir, where he finished third on a stage. He also represented Italy in the under-23 road race at the World Championships in Montréal.
Martinez completes the intake. The 18-year-old from Spain finished fifth at the Spanish junior road championships and seventh overall at the Volta Castelló, where he recorded two second-place stage finishes. He later represented Spain at the junior World Championships and finished 14th at the European Championships.
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Three riders leave the development squad
The incoming group will coincide with changes elsewhere in the Gen Z roster. Luca Giaimi and Davide Stella are moving up to UAE Team Emirates - XRG’s WorldTour team, while Ecuadorian Mateo Ramírez will join Movistar Team.
Giaimi’s promotion was announced in February 2026, with the Italian signing through the end of 2028. He had recorded victories including a stage at the Volta ao Alentejo and the Troféu Internacional da Arrábida in 2025 before making the step up.
Stella, a 20-year-old Italian sprinter, is set to join the WorldTour squad from 2027 on a three-year contract. His 2026 season included a difficult start following a crash at the AlUla Tour, but he returned to competition and won a stage at the Volta Portugal Futuro.
Ramírez, 20, has chosen a different route into the professional ranks. Movistar announced that the Ecuadorian would join through 2029 after two strong seasons in under-23 racing. His results included second overall at the Giro d’Italia Next Gen and fourth at the Tour de l’Avenir in 2026, strengthening his reputation as a prospective stage-race contender.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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