UAE Team Emirates Signed Pierre Gautherat
The young French cyclist has signed a three-year contract to bolster the team's Classics squad through 2029.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Cycling
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UAE Team Emirates-XRG has signed French cyclist Pierre Gautherat, who previously raced for Decathlon CMA CGM. Gautherat will join the team under a three-year contract that runs through 2029.
Why it matters
The signing is part of a strategic effort by UAE Team Emirates-XRG to strengthen its Classics roster. The team intends to utilize the developing talent as a domestique to support their broader racing objectives.
Gautherat turned professional at age 19 in 2023 and has since secured a win at the 2026 Paris-Camembert and a stage victory at the 2025 4 Jours de Dunkerque. He also recorded 11th-place finishes at both the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Dwars door Vlaanderen in 2024.
The players
Pierre Gautherat
A French cyclist who turned professional in 2023 and recently won the 2026 Paris-Camembert.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG
A professional cycling team focused on international race success that is currently expanding its Classics squad.
The details
Gautherat, who joins the team alongside new signings Marco Frigo, Abel Balderstone, and Davide Stella, has also demonstrated consistency with runner-up finishes at Tro Bro Léon and the Classique Dunkerque. The team aims to integrate his climbing and Classics potential into their existing racing structure.
Timeline
2023: Pierre Gautherat turned professional.
2024: Gautherat placed 11th in two classic races.
2025: Gautherat won a stage at 4 Jours de Dunkerque.
2026: Gautherat won the Paris-Camembert.
2029: Gautherat contract end date.
The Big Picture
The move aligns with the team's ongoing initiative to dominate the Classics calendar, mirroring the competitive focus required for monumental races like the Tour of Flanders. By adding young riders like Gautherat, the squad aims to secure long-term depth in high-stakes one-day events.
The addition of Gautherat as a domestique signals a shift in the team's roster deployment for future spring classics. Followers of professional cycling can anticipate seeing him work in support roles during major one-day races through the 2029 season.
The takeaway
Securing young talent to multi-year contracts is a standard strategy for teams looking to build endurance and depth for long-term championship runs. Readers should track how such roster adjustments impact team performance in major spring races over the next three seasons.
Further reading
For more on the current international competitive landscape, visit the Cycling section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cyclingnews.
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