UAE Team Emirates has officially confirmed the arrival of Fabio Aru from Astana on a three–year contract. The Italian rider will start performing for UAE Team Emirates in 2018. Even though Aru’s arrival has been widely expected, it wasn’t until yesterday morning when the transfer was made public.
The national champion and also 2015 Vuleta a Espana winner will now join his new team as a Grand Tour leader riding along his new teammate, Dan Martin. Last year, Aru, 27, was able to finish Tour de France in the fifth place coming right behind the overall winner; Froome while wearing the yellow jersey after winning a stage.
It’s official, #UAETeamEmirates in the Italian rider’s future , welcome @FabioAru1 ??. ?
?: https://t.co/0PNNMR0cWG pic.twitter.com/T4IyD7deQK
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamUAEAbuDhabi) October 17, 2017
“I’m honored that the UAE Team Emirates management and their sponsors want to unite our cycling endeavors. I thank them for the faith they’ve placed in me and I hope to live up to their expectations,” Aru said in an official statement that his current team made public. “I would also like to thank everyone who has been with me up to now in my career, they’ve all been important to my growth.”
We are proud to say welcome to @FabioAru1 in our Team for next 3 years @TeamUAEAbuDhabi #UAETeamEmirates ! https://t.co/JqIXRyec0C
— Carlo Saronni (@SaronniCarlo) October 17, 2017
Dividing the calendar
Once Aru joins the new team on January 2018, it is expected that he will be the one to divide the at UAE Team Emirates’ Grand Tour calendar along with his fellow new signing rider; Dan Martin.
Martin was placed sixth overall at this year’s Tour and is expected enough to lead the team at next season’s Tour de France. As for Aru, he will most probably target the Giro d’Italia.
“We welcome a champion like Fabio Aru; his skills perfectly match the ambitions of the team,” said UAE Team Emirates manager Carlo Saronni.
“Besides highlighting Aru’s enormous potential, I’d like to point out that Aru is a rider who can stir up excitement among the fans. He is well-loved because of his generosity on a bike. With his performances, he will contribute to promoting an ideal team image. He will likely help us reach important competitive milestones.”
