Pogacar hopes to have sustained success with UAE Team Emirates

Freshly-minted UAE Tour winner Tadej Pogacar hopes that he can have sustained success with UAE Team Emirates after extending his stay with the team on Tuesday.

The Slovanian star, who won the prestigious Tour de France last year, put pen to paper on a contract extension that will see him with the UAE’s UCI World Tour team until 2026. And it comes just days after the 22-year-old had brought cheers to the UAE by winning their home tour.

Pogacar, who joined the team in 2019, said he feels so at home with the flagship side.

“I feel at home in this team,” Pogacar said in a statement.

“There is a special atmosphere between the management, riders and staff and it’s a good environment to be in,” he added.

Pogacar was also grateful for the faith and the confidence shown in him by the team and hoped he can continue to build on the success in future races.

“The team shows a lot of trust and confidence in me which I am thankful for, and I work hard to show that when I’m racing alongside my teammates. I hope we can have many more successful seasons together in the years ahead,” said Pogacar, whose contract had already been extended by the team last year, until the end of 2024.

Matar Al Yabhouni, president of UAE Team Emirates, was delighted to have Pogacar commit to the team for the long--term.

“Tadej is our present and our future,” Al Yabhouni said.

“He showed great poise and determination to win the UAE Tour, a race that is growing year after year and is of obvious importance to us,” he added.

Mauro Gianetti, the team’s principal and CEO, felt that it reinforced Pogacar’s strong belief in the project.

“He strongly believes in our project as we do in his abilities,” said Gianetti.

“We are creating a real group, united, with an atmosphere that I don’t remember in all my years in cycling. I am particularly proud of this,” the Swiss added.

james@khaleejtimes.com