Tadei Pogachal has extended his contract with UAE Team Emirates through 2024, describing the next five years as "fundamental for the team and for my career."

The 21-year-old is considered one of the most talented riders of the younger generation and, despite the COVID-19 craze, is one of the most highly regarded riders in the peloton.

Pogachar has already shown that he is a future Grand Tour contender by finishing third in the 2019 Vuelta a España and winning three stages; he won the 2019 Tour of California and will start the 2020 season with his first uphill finish He started the season with an overall win in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, defeating Alejandro Valverde.

He finished second overall in the UAE Tour behind Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) for the stage win.

Pogachar is expected to lead the pack with sprinters Fernando Gaviria, Diego Ulissi, Fabio Aru, and classics leader Alexander Kristoff when he returns to UAE Team Emirates later in the 2020 season. He is also expected to be the first to cross the finish line. If the race takes place, he will make his Tour de France debut in September.

"I am happy to continue my relationship with UAE Team Emirates. I have become a professional here and I feel very comfortable with everyone," Pogachar said when announcing his contract extension with UAE Team Emirates.

"I believe in the team and want to be part of this ambitious project. The next five years will be fundamental for the team and for my career, and I hope they will be fruitful years for both."

Experienced team manager Mauro Gianetti signed Pogachar as part of a new crop of young riders and a major overhaul of the team staff. Pogachar had already extended his contract until 2022, but Gianetti secured the Slovenian rider, who will be with UAE Team Emirates until 2024, in order to fend off rival teams.

The new contract is one of the longest in the World Tour peloton, with Remco Evenepoel's contract at Deceuninck Quickstep until 2023 and Egan Bernal's contract at Team Ineos also until 2023.

"Both were willing to extend their contracts once again," Gianetti said.

"Pogachar represents the type of rider each team wants. Pogachar represents the type of rider each team wants.

"Taddei impressed everyone not only with his results but also with his attitude. All that was left was to complete the administrative work."