Jay Vine, one of pro cycling’s breakthrough riders of recent years, has broken his contract with Alpecin-Deceuninck for next year and has transferred to UAE Team Emirates, where he will be earning a considerably higher salary.
The news was confirmed today just days after Vine denied it was about to happen. The two-time Vuelta stage winner on Monday said he was not leaving Alpecin-Deceuninck, with whom he had another year to run on his contract, adding while he had offers, they had come to nothing.
“I’ve got a contract with Alpecin-Deceuninck until the end of (2023). I did get some contacts from some teams after stage eight of the Vuelta, but nothing came from those chats, no,” he told VeloNews.
However, UAE Team Emirates have today, just 72 hours later, confirmed that Vine has signed with them for the next two years and broken his contract early with Alpecin-Deceuninck.
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Vine joins Adam Yates, Tim Wellens, and Felix Grossschartner as new riders in UAE Team Emirates next year, with their transfers bolstering an already very strong roster around Tadej Pogačar. Other heavyweights Joao Almeida, Juan Ayuso, and Brandon McNulty are also already in the team.
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In only his second year as a pro rider, Vine – who broke through to pro cycling via Zwift – won two stages of La Vuelta this year and was leading the climbers’ classification until he crash and was forced out of the race on stage 18.
“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,” Vine said in a statement issued by his new team.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunities Alpecin has given me, and how they’ve helped me find my place in the peloton. I’m motivated for the new season with UAE, and eager to further refine my GC ambitions whilst helping the boys kick some goals.”
Mauro Gianetti, UAE Team Emirates principal and chief executive, said the team was “very pleased” to have signed Vine.
"He has proven himself as 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,” he said.
