UAE Team Emirates has become the richest team in professional cycling and has added a huge number of leaders over the past few years, as well as some of the most promising young riders on the rise. One of them was Finn Fisher-Black, but the New Zealand classic rider is sure to leave the team at the end of the season to join a rival team.
The report was published by Wielerflits, with the Dutch news outlet reporting that multiple sources have already confirmed that the transfer has been agreed and that a three-year contract has been signed. With transfer season starting in a few days, this is sure to be one of many transfers announced by the German team, who have seen a significant budget increase since Red Bull joined the organisation.
After signing Primoz Roglic on a high salary last winter, the team also managed to retain leaders including Jordi Meus and are said to be making big moves this winter, adding not only Roglic’s right-hand man Jan Tratnik, but also Team Visma Lease-a-Bike’s Mick and Tim van Dijke, Bardiani climbing supertalent Giulio Pelizzari, and Movistar and Groupma classics leaders Oier Lazcano and Laurence Pittier to the squad for the 2025 season.
The addition of Fischer-Brach would guarantee another potential move for the team, and while the team doesn’t plan to sign any world-class riders for the Grand Tours, they do have a ton of young signings who could develop into new leaders for the team over the next few seasons.
Fischer-Brack was already facing stiff competition in 2021 after being poached from Visma’s development squad to the UAE mid-season. Last year he showed his potential as a very strong pure puncher, finishing second to Jonas Wingegaard at the Vuelta a España summit finish on Mount Vejes, and winning stages at the Muscat Classic, Tour of Oman and Vuelta a Asturias. Despite this, however, the 22-year-old is not expected to compete in any Grand Tours and is expected to take on a more prominent role within the team.