UAE Team Emirates-XRG have confirmed a major round of contract renewals, securing six established members of their men’s squad as preparations for the 2027 season continue.
Vegard Stake Laengen has extended his contract through to the end of 2027, while Felix Großschartner and Julius Johansen have both signed until 2028. Domen Novak and Portuguese twins Ivo and Rui Oliveira have agreed longer deals taking them through to the end of 2029.
Rather than focusing entirely on headline leaders, the latest agreements secure much of the supporting structure around UAE’s stage-race and Classics squads. The team described the group as part of a “strong and trusted core”, with the six riders covering everything from climbing support and road captain duties to time trials, lead-outs and one-day racing.
Laengen set to pass a decade with UAE
Laengen’s extension continues one of the longest relationships in the current WorldTour.
The Norwegian has been with UAE Team Emirates since the project began in 2017 and has developed into one of its most experienced road captains. Much of his work has involved controlling races, protecting leaders and providing support during the earlier stages of major one-day and stage races rather than chasing individual results.
His new deal will take him beyond ten seasons with the organisation.
Großschartner has become similarly important since joining UAE in 2023. The Austrian has regularly been used as a climbing domestique in Grand Tours while remaining capable of taking opportunities of his own.
His versatility was again evident during 2026, including another Austrian national time trial title, and his contract through 2028 gives UAE continuity among the riders regularly used around their Grand Tour leaders.
Johansen earns longer deal after breakthrough season
Julius Johansen has been rewarded for a significant step forward during his second season with the team.
The Dane joined UAE Team Emirates-XRG in 2025 and initially provided much of his value through his power on flatter terrain and ability against the clock. During 2026, those characteristics have increasingly translated into individual results.
Johansen has collected a series of time-trial victories across the season while continuing to work as one of the team’s stronger engines on the road. His new contract will keep him with UAE until the end of 2028.
That gives the team another long-term option among the riders capable of controlling races before the terrain becomes more selective.
Photo Credit: GettyIvo and Rui Oliveira stay together through 2029
Ivo and Rui Oliveira have both signed three-year extensions, continuing a partnership with UAE that began when the Portuguese twins joined the team in 2019.
Both arrived with strong track backgrounds and have developed into versatile road riders capable of filling several different roles.
Ivo has combined domestique work with opportunities in shorter time trials and prologues, while Rui has increasingly been used in Classics, lead-outs and faster finishes.
Rui also reached an important personal milestone during the 2026 Volta a Portugal, taking the first professional road victory of his career on the final stage in Porto.
Keeping both brothers through 2029 gives UAE two experienced riders who can be moved between sprint, Classics and stage-race groups depending on the demands of the calendar.
Novak remains part of UAE’s climbing group
Domen Novak has also committed through to the end of 2029.
The Slovenian joined UAE in 2023 and has become a regular part of the team’s climbing support structure. A former Slovenian road champion, Novak is particularly valuable in races where UAE need riders capable of surviving deep into difficult mountain stages before handing responsibility to their leaders.
He has rarely needed to occupy the spotlight himself to be useful, with his role generally centred on positioning, pacing and reducing the number of rivals around UAE’s protected riders.
The extension keeps another experienced climbing domestique in place as the team continues planning several seasons ahead.
UAE continue to lock down long-term core
The latest six contracts form part of a broader effort to secure the squad well beyond 2027.
UAE have already agreed major long-term deals elsewhere in the roster, including Isaac del Toro’s extension through to 2031, while several of the riders responsible for supporting the team’s biggest names are also being retained.
That balance is important for a squad whose strength comes partly from the depth available beneath its outright leaders. Riders such as Großschartner and Novak provide climbing support, Laengen offers experience and road leadership, Johansen supplies power against the clock, while the Oliveira brothers can cover several different race situations.
The contracts do not dramatically reshape UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Instead, they ensure that much of the machinery behind the team’s existing success remains in place for the next three seasons.
I verified the contract lengths against UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s announcement; subsequent reporting also confirms that these renewals leave the team close to completing its 2027 roster.
