More and more pro teams are signing riders on long-term contracts and with it’s vast financial resources, UAE Team Emirates – XRG is certainly putting their efforts in doing so. Tadej Pogacar, Jan Christen and Pablo Torres have a standing contract until 2030 and now they are joined by 19-year old Adrià Pericas.
This maintains the team’s tradition of signing young riders on big contracts, which the team has been doing for several years successfully. Pericas is currently an under-23 rider with the team’s development squad and has shown more than enough evidence of great talent, finishing in the Top10 of his second race with the team at the Vuelta a Murcia at age 18 where he joined teammates Tim Wellens and Isaac del Toro in the front group.
“We are very pleased to welcome Adria to the World Tour team for next season. We’ve watched his development closely through the Gen Z structure, and we believe he has the qualities to be a part of our long-term project,” team DS Mauro Gianetti said in a press release. “The focus over the next years will be for him to continue to grow with us, both as a rider and as a person. His step-up is another positive development in the success of our Gen Z pathway.”
Pericas also rode to fifth at the Tour du Rwanda; won a stage and finished second at the Istrian Spring Tour and finished seventh at the under-23 Giro d’Italia amongst other results. But in his junior years he already displayed a lot of talent and was a proven winner in the Spanish peloton.
Pericas, soon to be racing the Tour de l’Avenir where he will be one of the top figures at the start, has shown himself very excited for the opportunity. “This season on the Gen Z team has been an incredible experience. I have really enjoyed being with my teammates, learning and growing every day, both inside and outside of the competition”.
“Making the jump to the World Tour is a dream come true, and I face this new stage with great enthusiasm. I hope to continue learning from the great riders and staff with whom I am going to share a team, continue enjoying cycling as before and be able to develop in the long term as a cyclist in this structure.”
We’re proud to confirm that 19-year-old Spanish talent @adriapericas 🇪🇸 will step up from our Gen Z development team to the WorldTour roster in 2026 on a five-year deal.
From his roots in Tona, Catalonia to standout results like a stage win at the Istrian Spring Tour and a… pic.twitter.com/6quNXllfjJ
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) August 11, 2025