UAE Team Emirates – XRG announced two important pieces of news about Tadej today – the extension of his contract through 2032 and also the early end to this year’s season, which ended for him with a painful crash in stage 8 of the Vuelta.
»From the beginning, this team has felt like home for me. We have grown together over the years and shared some incredible moments, so I’m very happy to extend my contract until 2032. There is still a lot I want to achieve in this sport and I believe this is the right place to do it. I’m very grateful for the trust the team has shown in me and excited about what we can continue to build together,« Tadej said about extending his cooperation with the team, where he became a professional cyclist in 2019.
His previous contract was valid until 2030, while the new one will expire when Tadej is 34 years old. With UAE Team Emirates – XRG, he has already celebrated 130 victories, including five at the Tour and 13 at the Monuments. The 2026 season was also exceptionally successful for Tadej; in 45 days of competition, he claimed 22 victories, with his fifth victory at the Tour and first at Milano–Sanremo standing out.
He had planned to win the red jersey at the Vuelta a España, followed by an attempt to win his third world championship title in Montreal and a bid for his second European championship title in Slovenia, as well as a sixth consecutive victory at Il Lombardia. Fate had other plans: in a crash during Stage 8 of the Vuelta, he fractured his left collarbone and seventh cervical vertebra and suffered a concussion.
After undergoing surgery on his collarbone in Barcelona on Monday, the decision has now been made that his season is over. »Of course, this isn’t the way I wanted my season to finish. Right now, the most important thing is to recover properly and give my body the time it needs. It has been a season with many special moments and I’m proud of what we achieved together. Now I’ll focus on getting healthy, supporting the guys from home, and coming back next year ready for what’s ahead,« Tadej said about the premature end to his 2026 season.
He made the decision together with the medical team of UAE Team Emirates – XRG. »Tadej is progressing well following surgery and we are very satisfied with his recovery to this point. However, given the combination of his injuries – the concussion, the stable C7 cervical fracture and the open clavicle fracture – we have taken the decision, together with Tadej, that he will not return to competition this season. From a medical perspective, his health is paramount, and the priority now is to allow each of these injuries to heal fully and to progress through his rehabilitation in a controlled manner,« said Dr. Adrian Rotunno, the team’s medical director.
»The post-operative clavicle and cervical fracture will both require a structured period of rehabilitation. Equally important is the need for him to progress carefully through a graduated concussion recovery protocol, with ongoing neurological monitoring. Only once he is medically recovered and personally ready, clearance to gradually start increasing training load can be given,« Dr. Rotunno added.
The medical decision was also supported by the leadership of UAE Team Emirates – XRG. »Following his crash, there is absolutely no pressure for Tadej to return to racing this year. His health and recovery are the priority. He has given an enormous amount throughout the season and now the right decision is for him to take the necessary time to recover fully. We look forward to having him back with us when he is ready,« said CEO Mauro Gianetti.
He also touched on the contract extension: »Tadej has been central to the journey and development of this team, and we are extremely proud that this relationship will continue through 2032.«