POWER MOVE: Tadej Pogačar Signs Groundbreaking $70 Million Deal with AG Insurance–Soudal, Extends Through 2029
Cycling World Shaken as Superstar Leaves UAE Team Emirates for Record-Breaking Contract
In one of the most earth-shattering moves in professional cycling history, Tadej Pogačar, the Slovenian sensation and two-time Tour de France champion, has signed a monumental contract worth $70 million with AG Insurance–Soudal, extending his career with the Belgian-based team through the 2029 season.
The deal, confirmed early Tuesday morning, is being hailed as the richest contract ever awarded to a professional cyclist, setting a new benchmark for financial value in the sport and signaling AG Insurance–Soudal’s intent to become a dominant force in the UCI WorldTour.
A New Era Begins
Pogačar, 26, leaves UAE Team Emirates after a successful and storied tenure marked by Grand Tour victories, Monument wins, and an unwavering dominance across all terrains. His transfer to AG Insurance–Soudal is seen as a seismic shift not just in team dynamics, but in the entire landscape of professional cycling.
“This is a bold new chapter for me,” said Pogačar in a press statement. “I’ve accomplished a lot, but I’m hungrier than ever. AG Insurance–Soudal shares my ambition, my vision, and they’ve given me the platform to chase greatness — on my terms.”
The Deal: Breaking Records
The $70 million contract spans five years, averaging $14 million annually, and includes:
•Full leadership status at all major races
•Custom performance and training team
•Revenue-sharing options from merchandising and media rights
•A post-retirement advisory role within the organization
According to cycling insiders, the contract not only dwarfs any previous rider deals but also includes commercial and marketing incentives that place Pogačar in a position of influence rarely seen in cycling.
Why AG Insurance–Soudal?
Known until recently as a development-focused team, AG Insurance–Soudal has made rapid strides in building elite infrastructure and attracting top-tier sponsors. Pogačar’s signing is a declaration of war on cycling’s traditional powerhouses like Jumbo–Visma, Ineos Grenadiers, and his former team, UAE.
The team’s general manager hailed the acquisition:
“We’re not just signing a rider — we’re launching a revolution. Tadej brings more than legs. He brings legacy, vision, and a belief that anything is possible.”
What This Means for the Sport
The transfer has already sent shockwaves through the peloton. With Pogačar now at the helm of a team poised to challenge in Grand Tours and Classics, the competitive landscape has dramatically shifted. Fans, sponsors, and broadcasters alike are already speculating about new rivalries, strategies, and race dynamics heading into 2025 and beyond.
Social media erupted within minutes of the announcement, with fans calling it “the biggest move since Armstrong’s prime” and “cycling’s first true free agency power play.”
Pogačar’s Legacy Still Growing
With 2 Tour de France wins, multiple Monuments, and a reputation as the most versatile rider of his generation, Pogačar is now positioned to build one of the most legendary careers in cycling history — and this deal ensures he’ll do it with the full force of a team built around him.
As the world of cycling enters a new financial and competitive era, one thing is clear: Tadej Pogačar is not just riding into history — he’s rewriting it.
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