There are a few changes at UAE Emirates XRG heading into the new cycling season, but Tadej Pogacar will no longer have an important staff member by his side in 2026. This concerns Joseba Elguezabal, the world champion’s regular masseur.
According to the Spanish El Correo, the caretaker from the Basque region is leaving UAE Emirates XRG for an adventure in... another sport. Elguezabal will start working at Athletic Bilbao. This Basque football club has long competed in La Liga, the top football division in Spain. Elguezabal had already worked for a year within Athletic Bilbao’s youth academy.
That Elguezabal is a trusted confidant of Pogacar is clear from his words in an interview with El Correo. “It is much more than a working relationship. Wherever Tadej was, I was by his side.” The two have been working together since 2019 – Pogacar’s first professional year.
View this post on Instagram
Incidentally, Elguezabal is not the first to make the move from UAE Emirates XRG to Athletic Bilbao. Two years ago, Inigo San Millan already went before him. San Millan was Pogacar’s coach at that time.
The Spaniard initially combined these two roles, but the Slovenian top rider decided to take a different approach. Since then, he has been training under the guidance of Javier Sola.
