UAE Team Emirates extended the contracts of three key riders yesterday, as they move towards finalising their squad for the 2026 season.
Building on a 2025 season which saw them break the record for the number of wins by one team, UAE will aim to continue their streak of unprecedented success in the new season, and they will continue to rely on the services of three key players who have all had an impact in 2025.
The first of the trio is Belgian champion Tim Wellens. Arguably one of the most important acquisitions for Mauro Gianetti’s squad in recent seasons, 34-year-old Wellens has proven himself to be an indispensable team member, serving as a vital member of the Classics team supporting Tadej Pogačar, supporting the Slovenian to victory at Strade Bianche and the Tour of Flanders, as well as riding as a domestique for his leader at the Tour de France. Wellens was a key player in the 2025 edition of the race, wearing the polka dot jersey in the early stages, supporting Pogačar on the flat and also being allowed the freedom to go for his own chances. He combined power and savvy tactical riding to take victory on stage 15, one of five stage wins for the team – and the only one not won by Pogačar himself. Wellens extends to the end of 2027.
‘I’m honoured and proud to spend more years with the best team in the world, surrounded by the best people – not only the riders but all the staff as well. Here, I’ve found the perfect balance between supporting the team and riding for others, while still having my own opportunities.’
The second rider to tie his future to the team is loyal domestique Vegard Stake Laengen, who adds a year onto his contract to take him to the end of 2026. The highly experienced 36-year-old Norwegian has been at UAE since the team in its current guise began, in 2017, and in that time he has served the team as a key rouleur and road captain, part of the winning team that supported Tadej Pogačar in his first appearance at the Giro d’Italia victory in 2024, and riding a number of Grand Tours and other stage races as a support rider.
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