UAE sign one of Paul Seixas' teammates - Decathlon and Emirati team erupt in a transfer battle
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates-XRG continues to strengthen its roster for the coming seasons with the signing of Pierre Gautherat. The 23-year-old Frenchman joins on a deal through the end of 2029 and arrives with several World Tour seasons under his belt despite his age. A curious move in the transfer market by the Emirati squad.
Gautherat is regarded as one of the most promising young French riders for the Classics. He is a powerful rider, well suited to the demands of the northern cobbled races and the harder one-day events. His steady progression in recent seasons has yielded a string of notable results.
Among them are a stage win at the 4 Jours de Dunkerque in 2025 and second at the Gran Premio Castellón in 2024. He has also climbed the Tro-Bro Léon podium in the last two editions, underlining his consistency in races that suit his profile.
A step forward in 2026
The 2026 season marked another step up for Gautherat. The Frenchman took victory at Paris–Camembert, while he also finished second at the Classique Dunkerque and fourth at Tro-Bro Léon.
More recently, Gautherat showcased his speed and versatility at the Tour de Luxembourg, where he took second and third on different stages. This sequence of results has reinforced his credentials as a rider capable of performing both in the Classics and in fast finishes.
He had been linked to UAE for several months now, despite having had a running contract with the French team. Pavel Sivakov is expected to join Decathlon from UAE; but beforehand a move in the opposite direction has been confirmed.
His arrival will allow UAE Team Emirates-XRG to add depth to its one-day unit. At the same time, Gautherat will have the chance to keep pursuing his own ambitions in some of the calendar’s marquee races, following the footsteps of his former teammate Benoît Cosnefroy.
The Frenchman thus embarks on a new phase of his career, aiming to keep progressing and establish himself at the highest level of international cycling.
Pierre Gautherat is one of Decathlon's talented young Frenchmen
Gautherat: “This is a great opportunity for me”
Gautherat expressed his satisfaction with the agreement reached with UAE Team Emirates-XRG and underlined its importance for his future.
“I’m very proud to join UAE Team Emirates-XRG. This is a great opportunity for me and an exciting new chapter in my career,” the French rider said.
Gautherat believes the Emirati setup offers the right environment to continue his development and take another step forward. “I feel this is the right environment for me to take another step, keep developing as a rider, and compete at the highest level,” he noted.
The Classics will be among his key targets with his new team. “I’m especially motivated by the Classics and I want to keep progressing towards the biggest races and integrate within the team,” he added.
The Frenchman also stressed his intention to learn from his new teammates and staff: “I’m looking forward to joining the team, learning from the riders and staff around me, and giving everything I can to contribute to the team’s success.”
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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