UAE Team Emirates-XRG is pleased to announce the signing of Abel Balderstone: the Spanish rider has signed a three-year contract that will bind him to the team until the end of the 2029 season. The 26-year-old Catalan comes from Caja Rural–Seguros RGA, a team in which he has established himself as a consistent stage racer and a strong climber.

Balderstone enjoyed a successful 2025, claiming the Spanish time trial championship title. His progression continued in 2026, with a 4th place finish in the overall classification of O Gran Caminho, before competing in his first Tour de France this summer. A versatile rider who performs best on challenging rolling terrain and in stage races, he will add further strength and depth to UAE Team Emirates-XRG's roster, while continuing his own development at WorldTour level.

Abel Balderstone stated: "Joining UAE Team Emirates-XRG is a dream I have cherished since childhood. I am truly excited and highly motivated to begin this new project, and I cannot wait to grow as a rider alongside the team".

He continued: "I am happy to experience this opportunity and to learn from all the riders in the team. I believe this will be a very important step in my career and an environment where I can give my best, continue to improve as a rider, and make a significant leap forward. I would like to thank the team for giving me this great opportunity and I look forward to sharing this journey together".

Mauro Gianetti, CEO and Team Principal of the Emirati squad, expressed himself as follows: "We are very pleased to welcome Abel to our team. He is a rider who has shown good progression in recent seasons. We believe he has the qualities to fit very well into our structure and also the potential to continue improving. He is entering an important phase of his career and we are delighted to have him in the team for the next three years".