Tadej Pogachar's UAE Team Emirates, which missed out on its third Tour de France win this season, has recruited Slovenian Domen Novak, who is transferring from Bahrain Victorious, as a support rider.

Pogachar was often isolated in the Tour de France, and Jumbo Visma surrounded winner Jonas Vingegaard with superdomestiques, including a great ride by Wout Van Art in the Pyrenees.

Novak does not have the same track record as the Belgian, but the 27-year-old talent has mostly flown under the radar. At the Giro d'Italia this past May, he finished second on the summit of Passo Fedaia on stage 20, but that result was overshadowed by the overall battle behind him, with Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) taking the Maria Rosa off the shoulders of Richard Karapas (Ineos Grenadiers).

Novak was also third overall in the Tour of Slovenia, but again his presence on the top step of the pogachar outweighed this result.

The 2019 Slovenian road champion will move with Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) and Felix Großschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe) to strengthen the Pogachar team. The team also extended the contract of 19-year-old Juan Ayuso, a future Grand Tour contender and under-23 Giro d'Italia winner, through 2028.

"It was my dream to ride for UAE Team Emirates with many great riders, including champions like Tadej Pogachar. Now that dream has come true and I am honored and grateful for the trust they have shown in me and I am eager to begin my journey," Novak said in a team press release.

Team principal Mauro Gianetti added, "Novak is a rider who has shown good growth over the years as a professional and we feel he can offer the team good qualities, especially in the mountains. He has a lot of experience at the World Tour level and we believe he has a lot to offer the team in the coming years."

The team's representative Mauro Gianetti said, "Novak has shown good growth over the past few years as a professional rider, especially in the mountains.