“We’ve already signed one” – UAE Team Emirates – XRG reportedly set to sign new superstar talent
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar, Juan Ayuso, Isaac del Toro. the conveyor belt
of young talent at UAE Team Emirates – XRG seems never-ending. And now, if
rumours are to be believed, it appears the Emirati outfit is set to add another
name to its glittering list of future stars: Ecuadorian teenager Mateo Pablo
Ramirez.
After a Giro d’Italia campaign that saw 21-year-old Isaac
del Toro finish on the podium, UAE’s sporting director Joxean Fernández Matxin
hinted at more youth driven reinforcements coming soon. Speaking to Primicias,
an Ecuadorian newspaper, Matxin said, “Ecuadorian cyclists are very good. We’ve
already signed one.” He declined to name the rider but promised an announcement
soon. However, a bit of social media investigation may have already revealed the
answer.
French journalist Renaud Breban spotted an Instagram story
posted by Giacomo Notari, a trainer at UAE Team Emirates – XRG. In it appeared
19-year-old Mateo Pablo Ramirez, a promising Ecuadorian currently racing for
Spanish U23 squad High Level–Gsport–Grupo Tormo. The image all but confirms the
rumoured signing.
Ramirez has been quietly making a name for himself in South
America. At this year’s Ecuadorian National Championships, he finished third in
the elite road race and second in the time trial, impressive results for a
teenager competing against the country’s best. His climbing pedigree and time
trial strength fit perfectly into UAE’s blueprint of grooming well rounded GC
contenders from a young age.
The signing would continue UAE’s aggressive strategy of
snapping up top international prospects before their competition can blink.
With Pogacar already a three-time Tour de France winner, Ayuso becoming a
podium contender, and del Toro rapidly rising through the ranks, UAE has
positioned itself as cycling’s premier incubator for young talent.
So, are UAE on the cusp of securing some more gold dust?
Perhaps the rival teams need to start improving their scouting networks?
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- wtf dudemij07-11-2026
- big rival … ridiculous.Ketterechts07-11-2026
- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
Loading
1 Comments