‘I feel like they know how strong I am, so they don’t let me go anymore’ – UAE talent Jan Christen battling his own attacking instincts in pursuit of full potential

Rising Swiss expertise Jan Christen is one in all solely 4 riders with the posh of being contracted on UAE Group Emirates-XRG, biking’s prime group, till 2030, alongside two Spanish youngsters – Pablo Torres and Adrià Pericas – and world champion Tadej Pogačar.

Regardless of this sure future, although, Christen is aware of he has critical enhancements to make if he is to extract his full potential and never fall down the pecking order amongst UAE’s near-overflow of stars that additionally consists of Isaac del Toro and João Almeida.

Christen was the recipient of a really public dressing down by one in all his teammates, Mikkel Bjerg, earlier this season, after his instinctive attacking model left the Dane criticising him on Danish TV2 on the Tour de Suisse.

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“No, I used to be very stunned that he attacked, however good to see he had good legs,” mentioned Bjerg to TV2 when requested if he was anticipating Christen’s transfer on stage 2 that finally got here to nothing.

“[It’s] a bit unhappy he does not know learn how to assist us, however that is how it’s.”

If he is to turn out to be a key cog throughout his lengthy stint on UAE, which the group will probably be hoping for after extending the 21-year-old’s contract to 2030, Christen is aware of very properly that he’ll typically should rein it in. Although his pure propensity to assault when he feels the second is correct might show laborious to beat.

“It is not simple, I wish to race with the intuition and check out one thing, not ready an excessive amount of for the ultimate,” he informed Cyclingnews earlier than stage 4 of the Tour of Guangxi.

“However I’ve began to really feel like the blokes know the way robust I’m, so they do not let me go anymore. I additionally must be taught a bit extra from the opposite guys and hear, and for certain I could make subsequent yr a variety of victories.”

UAE have been the location of some well-known inside battles lately amid their employment of lots of the prime riders and prime up-and-coming riders on the planet, comparable to Juan Ayuso and Isaac del Toro at this yr’s Giro, or Ayuso and Almeida ultimately yr’s Tour, when the latter needed to shout on the former to come back take a pull up the Col du Galibier.

Christen does not appear to be making his typically rash strikes purely out of rivalry with these competing for a similar race calendar, however does genuinely look like on the mercy of his personal inside must gentle issues up when a chance presents itself.

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It is received him two wins to date in 2025, alongside some prime outcomes like second on the Clásica San Sebastián and a robust week with 5 top-10 finishes on the Tour of Poland. He clearly desires extra, however has had a number of run-ins with sickness, alongside breaking his collarbone, which have stunted his progress throughout solely his second yr as a WorldTour rider.

“It was a pleasant yr and we have had a variety of victories, which has been superb,” he mentioned.

“For me, I had a little bit of dangerous luck, some crashes, but in addition broke my collarbone and had some illness, however in the long run I additionally gained two races and was a part of many victories with the group, so I am already trying ahead to the subsequent yr.

“I am completely happy how I might enhance additionally this yr and looking out ahead to creating one other step within the winter after which be much more profitable.”

Preventing for management at UAE

He additionally mentioned that the inner competitors at UAE has helped maintain him sharp and targeted, conscious that with the ability to present the Emirati squad you’re up for the duty forward is simply as essential to afford management as really doing it on the highway is. In spite of everything, while you’ve gained simply shy of 100 races in a calendar yr with 20 completely different riders, being picked because the man to go for the win requires fairly some convincing.

“I feel the competitors is sweet since you push one another, that is the important thing of our group,” mentioned Christen.

“We at all times have so many guys on the beginning line who can win the race, and it’s essential to do all you possibly can within the preparation in order that the group is aware of and sees you have got the perfect stage. I feel like this, we push one another loads and get stronger to be on the race in the perfect form doable.”

Even together with his long-term future secured, Christen is not simply going to make use of that to take a seat again – it is victories that he desires. In China, Jhonatan Narváez is UAE’s best-placed rider on GC heading into the queen stage 5 on Saturday to NongLa, however Christen did not rule out a number of strikes being made by the top-ranked group, with the target merely being a UAE win, not essentially a Narváez win.

“It is enjoyable to be signed till 2030 in a method, however I additionally wish to win races; nonetheless, it does give me a variety of confidence that the group has in me and the longer term with the group,” Christen informed Cyclingnews.

“I do not know precisely how a lot form is. I’ve raced loads the final eight weeks, however with Jonny, we have now the large favorite right here, and in addition Felix [Großschartner] and I are in good situation. In the long run, it is about enjoying our playing cards proper and ensuring one in all us wins.”

For 2026, Christen will not know his precise objectives till UAE head to coaching camp and make sure them in December or January, however he desires the one-day and one-week racing arenas to be his key goal, alongside hopefully making his Grand Tour debut.

“We’ll see, I am liking a variety of the one-day races like Flèche, Amstel and San Sebastian,” he mentioned, when requested about objectives for subsequent season. “For certain, it could be good to do my first Grand Tour and set even one other stage for the upcoming yr, however my fundamental focus will probably be for certain on the one-week stage races and one-day races.”