Tadej Pogačar has officially brought his stellar 2025 racing season to a close and signed a massive contract extension with UAE Team Emirates that keeps him with the WorldTour squad through the 2032 season, according to team announcements. The 27-year-old Slovenian star will not defend his world title following a severe crash at the Vuelta a España, choosing instead to focus entirely on his recovery from a broken left collarbone and concussion.
Contract Extension Locks in UAE Team Emirates Future Through 2032
Pogačar’s long-term future is now secured well into the next decade. Prior to the new agreement, his previous contract ran through 2030, which had fueled widespread paddock speculation regarding whether the multi-time Grand Tour winner might contemplate retirement once that deal expired. By committing through 2032, Pogačar firmly dismissed those rumors.
Reflecting on the commitment, Pogačar noted that the organization has felt like a family since his arrival. “From the beginning, this team has felt like a home,” Pogačar said through team channels. “We have grown together over the years and experienced incredible moments. In this sport, I still want to achieve a lot, and I am convinced that this is the right place for it. I am very grateful to the team for the trust it places in me, and I look forward to what we can still build together.”
Vuelta Crash Ends World Title Defense Hopes
The decision to halt his campaign comes in the wake of a heavy accident during the Vuelta a España, a Spanish Grand Tour that has thus far eluded his palmarès. During the race, Pogačar suffered a broken left collarbone and a concussion, forcing him to abandon the competition. Subsequent medical evaluations ruled out any chance of a late-season return, ending weeks of speculation regarding whether he could still line up as the defending champion at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, Canada, scheduled for September 27.
Confirming the end of his competitive year, UAE Team Emirates stated that the Slovenian will not return to racing in 2025, “but will concentrate fully on his recovery and rehabilitation.”
“The most important thing is to recover properly and give my body the time it needs,” Pogačar said. “Of course, this is not the way I wanted to end my season.”
The abrupt halt follows another historic summer campaign in which Pogačar secured his fifth career Tour de France victory, cementing his status as the sport’s preeminent stage racer.
Remaining Career Ambitions
Despite already claiming two World Championship titles and five yellow jerseys at the Tour de France, Pogačar maintains clear sporting motivations for the remainder of his extended contract. Major career objectives that still elude the Slovenian include an overall victory at the Vuelta a España, an Olympic gold medal, and a triumph at the prestigious Paris-Roubaix one-day Monument.
With his recovery now taking absolute precedence, Pogačar’s immediate focus shifts away from the bike and toward physical rehabilitation. UAE Team Emirates has not yet announced a tentative date for his return to training ahead of the 2026 campaign.
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