Why all those UAE stars ride blindly for Pogacar, but a grand tour hat trick seems unlikely

Arrieta joined UAE Team Emirates at the end of 2023, transferring from Equipo Kern Pharma, and signed for three seasons. The now 21-year-old Spaniard said he’s already made significant progress in his first year in the WorldTour, though mainly in support of others. In a team packed with so many superstars, pursuing his own results isn’t guaranteed. "I hope to continue growing next year and to be able to race more in the finales."

If that doesn’t happen, Arrieta would gladly settle into a role as a domestique, as would many others, who are eager to push themselves to exhaustion for Pogacar’s success. How does UAE Team Emirates manage to get so many big names to dedicate themselves so fully to Pogacar? "Everyone gets along well, there’s always a good atmosphere, and that makes the work very easy. From the outside, it may look different, but I felt welcomed from the very first moment."

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And for Pogacar, the team is always willing to go the extra mile. “Honestly, I’m very excited to ride for him. In the end, he’s like an idol to me – the best rider in the world right now. He’s a very down-to-earth guy, and it’s really easy to race alongside him. That all makes it very enjoyable.”

Should Pogacar aim for a historic hat trick in the coming years, Arrieta is fully on board. Pogacar himself has expressed a willingness to leave races for other leaders, but the idea of a Giro-Tour-Vuelta hat trick lingers in his mind. "Although that would be very challenging. This year, he won two, and everyone immediately said he should go for the Vuelta. But you have to think about the future, too. Maybe you can do it all in one year, but it could have consequences for your body in the following year."