Confirmed: Pogačar extends with UAE Team Emirates until 2032 and will not race again in 2026

Tadej Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG will continue together, at least, until the end of 2032. The team has just officially announced the renewal of its star for two additional seasons regarding the contract he had in place, concluding negotiations that began before the Vuelta a España and have ultimately gone even further than initially expected.

The news also comes at a particularly significant moment for Pogacar. UAE has taken the opportunity to confirm that the Slovenian will not compete again this season after the serious fall suffered in La Vuelta. His present now involves recovery, but his sporting future remains tied to the team that has accompanied him throughout his professional career.

Pogacar renews with UAE Team Emirates-XRG until 2032

"Together until 2032." With that message, UAE Team Emirates-XRG has announced one of the most important renewals currently possible in professional cycling.

Pogacar had a contract until the end of 2030, so there was really no urgency to sit down and negotiate. However, as we reported before the start of La Vuelta, his representative Alex Carera had already confirmed that both parties were working on a new extension.

RECOMENDADO

Pogačar’s season is considered over: he could miss the World Championships, European Championships and Il Lombardia

Pogačar leaves hospital, with an update on his return possible on Friday

Pogačar undergoes successful surgery for his collarbone fracture: now his recovery begins

Ducati swaps horsepower for watts in its new cycling era: meet the Monoscocca and GraviaX with Italian carbon

Wout van Aert finishes off a great breakaway in Loja to claim his first La Vuelta victory

Ducati switches to Avinox: meet its new e-MTBs with up to 1,300 W and 150 Nm

At that time, the discussion mainly revolved around adding 2031 to the existing agreement. Carera also explained that the conversations were not solely focused on the financial aspect and hinted that there were several important clauses that made the negotiation unlike a conventional contract.

The final agreement has gone a step further: it will not be until 2031, but until the end of 2032.

"From the beginning, this team has felt like my home. We have grown together over the years and shared incredible moments, so I am very happy to extend my contract until 2032", Pogacar explains in the statement.

The Slovenian also makes it clear that he still believes he has many goals ahead: "There are still many things I want to achieve in this sport, and I believe this is the right place to do it. I am very grateful for the trust the team has placed in me and excited about what we can continue to build together."

The extension means that Pogacar will be 34 years old when the new contract ends, as he will turn that age in September 2032. It is a particularly long horizon for a cyclist who in recent years has periodically sparked speculation about how long he wants to extend his career at the highest level.

With this agreement, at least contractually, UAE and Pogacar project their relationship far beyond the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and even beyond 2030, the date until which he was previously signed.

UAE secures its star for six more seasons

Pogacar joined the UAE Team Emirates structure in 2019, and since then, his trajectory and the team's sporting transformation have progressed almost in parallel. The Emirati team went from trying to establish itself among the major WorldTour structures to becoming one of the references in the peloton, with the Slovenian as a fundamental piece of the project.

The formation itself defines Pogacar as a central cyclist in its evolution. Mauro Gianetti, CEO and Team Principal, states that they are "extremely proud" that this relationship will continue until 2032.

The renewal also consolidates a relationship that has acquired an extraordinary economic dimension. The contract that Pogacar had until now was valued at around 8 million euros annually, although that amount represents only a part of all that the Slovenian generates.

Estimates published this summer place his earnings for 2026 at at least 13 million euros combining salary, sports bonuses, personal sponsorships, and merchandising. Only his personal commercial agreements would contribute around 2.5 million euros.

UAE has not communicated the economic conditions of the new contract until 2032, so for now it cannot be stated whether the renewal implies a salary increase compared to the approximately 8 million annually of his previous agreement.

Pogacar ends his 2026 season

The announcement has a second important part. UAE Team Emirates-XRG has officially confirmed that Pogacar will not compete for the remainder of 2026.

Hours earlier, we had already indicated that his season was practically over, information that the team has now made official.

The fall suffered during the eighth stage of La Vuelta caused a concussion, a displaced fracture of the left clavicle, and a stable fracture of the cervical vertebra C7. Pogacar had to abandon while wearing the red jersey and was subsequently transferred to Barcelona, where he underwent surgery.

The decision means giving up the major objectives that still remained on his calendar, especially the World Championship in Montreal, where he was to defend the rainbow jersey, as well as the European Championship and Il Lombardia.

"Right now, the most important thing is to recover properly and give my body the time it needs," Pogacar explains.

Therefore, there will not be a time trial to try to return before the end of the year. UAE confirms that recovery and rehabilitation are now the only priority and sets the return of its leader for 2027.

It is difficult to find a greater contrast in the same announcement. Pogacar's season ends prematurely due to one of the most serious falls of his career, but at the same time, it is announced that Tadej Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG will continue together until the end of 2032.