UAE Team Emirates has announced it has signed Australian Jay Vine on a two-year deal. Vine’s agreement with his previous team Alpecin-Deceuninck stretched through the 2023 season, but the Belgian team has accepted to terminate his contract early in respect of Vine’s wish to join UAE Team Emirates – home of Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar.

UAE Team Emirates has signed Vine to improve their odds of returning to winning ways in Grand Tours, including reclaiming the Tour de France trophy for Tadej Pogacar. Not only will Vine be valuable support for Pogacar, he will also be given the opportunity to develop further as a general classification rider himself.

"I’m really excited to be joining UAE Team Emirates. With their strong combination of riders and their GC experience, this was the next logical step in my career."

"I’m really grateful for the opportunities Alpecin-Deceuninck has given me and how they have helped me find my place in the professional peloton. I’m motivated for the new season with the UAE team and eager to further refine my GC ambitions whilst helping the boys kick some goals," Vine added.

26-year-old Vine made a name for himself this year by winning two stages of the 2022 Vuelta a Espana, thereby documenting his excellent climbing skills and race tactics.

Team Alpecin-Deceuninck said it would have preferred to keep Vine with them longer but respected his wish to leave the team earlier than planned and had no interest in forcing Vine to stay with the team against his personal wishes.

“We are very pleased to welcome Jay onto the team,” UAE Team Emirates CEO Mauro Gianetti explained to Roadcycling.com. “He has proven himself a top-class climber and we feel that he still has a margin to grow and develop more on the road. He came into cycling relatively late but has progressed very quickly and has shown a good mentality and a real desire to join our team. We hope for many good years working together.”