Spanish climbing newcomer Pablo Torres has signed a neo-pro contract with UAE Team Emirates until 2030, the longest of any World Tour pro.

The 18-year-old from Madrid recently finished second overall in the Tour de l'Avenir, setting a new record in the Colle delle Finestre, one of the toughest Alps in Italy.

Torres, a member of this year's UAE Gen Z development team, has signed a contract with the senior team for the next six seasons, making him the longest-serving professional athlete on the World Tour, according to Wielerfritz. His contract is comparable to that of Wout Van Art, who recently signed with Visma Lease-a-Bike.

Torres will become the fourth new rider for UAE Team Emirates in 2025, along with Honatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers), René Herregots (Intermarque Wanty), and Florian Vermeersch (Lot Dostony).

“We remain a team dedicated to nurturing future talent and we believe Pablo Torres has the qualities to step up to the World Tour,” Mauro Gianetti said in a team press release. 'He is a young rider and our focus will be on his development as a rider and as a person.'

In an interview with AS earlier this year, Torres said that his former club in San Sebastián de los Reyes, a town just north of Madrid, is in regular contact with UAE manager Joxen Fernández Matoxin, and that his training peaks file and after more detailed discussions, Matoxin explained that he had signed him to the Gen Z team.

“My dream is to be one of the best riders and I will do everything possible to achieve that,” Torres told AS.

“But it's still too early to know what kind of rider I can be, what kind of level I can reach, because I don't know what I can do.

UAE Team Emirates also renewed the contract of all-rounder Marc Soler for another three years.

The Catalan rider, a three-time stage winner at the Vuelta a España, is also regularly used to support Tadej Pogachar's team.