Everything pointed to Jhonatan Narváez leaving UAE Emirates XRG at the end of this season to return to his former team, Netcompany INEOS, but the Ecuadorian will not be leaving the team after all. This is according to Daniel Benson.


The typically well-informed cycling journalist reports on his Substack that Narváez has decided to extend his contract with his current employer after all. The three-time stage winner in the recent Giro d’Italia has already reached an agreement on a new, three-year contract.


In recent months, Narváez had been strongly linked to Netcompany INEOS. The deal even seemed all but done, but it will not go through after all. This is a major setback for the British team, as they saw Narváez as an additional leader for the climbing and classics.


The 29-year-old Narváez had already raced for (then) INEOS Grenadiers from 2019 through 2024 and made his breakthrough while riding for the British team. After six seasons, he decided to move to UAE Emirates XRG, and this move has paid off handsomely.


Riding for the wealthy UAE Emirates team, he achieved even more success, with overall victory in the Tour Down Under and three stage wins in the recent Giro d’Italia as his most notable highlights. Narváez also impressed in last year’s Tour as a lieutenant to overall winner Tadej Pogacar. The Ecuadorian often proved to be the strongest climber in support of the Slovenian.

Jhonatan Narváez bedenkt zich en tekent toch niet voor Netcompany INEOS