Nils Politt has signed a three-year contract extension with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, keeping the German rider with the team until the end of 2029.
The 32-year-old has become one of the squad’s most dependable road captains since joining the Emirati team, combining Classics experience, Grand Tour support work and lead-out strength across some of the biggest races on the calendar.
Politt commits long-term future to UAE Team Emirates-XRG
Politt’s new deal gives UAE Team Emirates-XRG continuity around one of its most experienced support riders. He has been an important presence across stage races, Monuments and Grand Tours, often taking on the kind of work that does not always stand out on a results sheet but is essential to the team’s biggest ambitions.
His profile is particularly valuable because it covers several roles. Politt can guide leaders through nervous race situations, contribute in crosswinds, control breakaways, support sprint structures and still remain dangerous in hard one-day races when given freedom.
That versatility has made him one of the more useful riders in the UAE Team Emirates-XRG structure, especially in a squad built around major general classification goals and high-pressure race days.
Politt: ‘This team has become like a second family’
Politt said the decision to stay was straightforward because of the environment he has found inside the team.
“I’m really happy to continue with UAE Team Emirates-XRG,” Politt said. “From the first day I arrived, I felt at home here and over the last years this team has become like a second family for me.”
The German highlighted the atmosphere within the squad as one of the reasons behind the extension.
“The atmosphere inside this group is something special, everyone works hard together but also enjoys being together, and that makes a big difference during a long season,” he said.
“I feel appreciated here, both as a rider and as a person, and that made this decision very easy. We’ve already achieved so much together but I still feel there is a lot more to come. I’m excited to continue this journey with the team for the next years.”
Road captain and Classics specialist
Politt’s career has been shaped by his ability to handle the hardest one-day races while also committing fully to team duties. His palmarès includes a Tour de France stage victory, 2nd at Paris-Roubaix and 3rd at Ronde van Vlaanderen, results that underline his pedigree in the Classics.
Those performances also explain why UAE Team Emirates-XRG value him beyond his support work. Riders who can position leaders in the Classics, survive deep into Monuments and still read chaotic race situations are difficult to replace.
Politt’s strength and race craft are especially useful in races where the favourites need protection before the decisive moves. On cobbles, in crosswinds or during long flat approaches to climbs, his workload can shape how safely and efficiently team leaders reach the moments that decide the race.
Another piece of UAE’s long-term structure
The renewal fits into UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s wider long-term planning. The team has built one of the deepest squads in the peloton, but keeping experienced riders around its leaders is just as important as signing headline names.
Politt gives the team stability in the races where control is difficult. He has the engine to work for hours, the experience to make quick decisions and the authority to organise teammates in pressured situations.
For UAE Team Emirates-XRG, extending him through 2029 keeps a trusted road captain in place for the next phase of the team’s ambitions. For Politt, it means continuing in a structure where his value is clearly recognised, both as a rider capable of shaping races for others and as a Classics specialist still able to make his own mark.
