"I am not one of them": Paula Blasi won La Vuelta Femenina - But she won't be one of UAE's leaders for the Tour de France Femmes
Cycling
The Tour de France Femmes begins this Saturday and features plenty of the world's best. Amongst them is La Vuelta Femenina winner Paula Blasi, one of the main favourites in the fight for the yellow jersey; however apparently, not one of the leaders for UAE Team ADQ.
The 23-year old has been one of the breakthrough riders of the season, having a tremendous rise in performance since her pro debut mid-2025. Blasi is one of the world's best already, not just a promise for the future. The Spaniard won Amstel Gold Race Ladies with a surprise attack; and then backed that up with a third place at La Flèche Wallone and fifth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
As a classics rider, her talent was proven. Then as a climber, she also proved it at La Vuelta Femenina. Blasi won the overall classification, taking the red jersey on the queen stage to the Alto de l'Angliru after dropping Anna van der Breggen on the brutal climb.
Ever since, she has also raced and won the Durango Durango Emakumeen Saria; as well as stages and overall classification at both Tour Féminin des Pyrénées and Volta a Catalunya Femenina. The talent is undeniable, and a leadership position at the Tour is logical.
But that is not the case. “The team’s plans are clear: we have two leaders. No, I am not one of them," Blasi said in words to In de Waaier.
"How do I feel about that? It is always nice to work for a team leader. As a rider, you always want to win, so it is not easy to hear something like that, but I believe in the team’s approach.”
Paula Blasi at the 2026 Strade Bianche Donne
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Blasi's departure might play a role in her role demotion
There are valid questions raised, taking into consideration she is one of the most successful riders of the season and a suitable contender to fight for the win at the Tour. She sits second in the UCI rankings, only behind Demi Vollering who will aim for vengeance at the Grand Boucle.
Elisa Longo Borghini will be one of the leaders, despite the sub-optimal season the veteran has had so far; last year's fourth place Dominika Wlodarczyk should be the second - despite recently finishing second to Blasi in the Pyrenees. Maeva Squiban, a two-time stage winner at last year's Tour, could also be a dangerous option for UAE's rivals.
The decision could only be explained by the fact that the Spaniard is likely leaving the team, something she is open with. “Does my potential departure play a role in the choice of my role in this Tour? No, I trust the performance staff. They have their vision and we follow it".
Blasi is likely to leave either to Movistar Team or Lidl-Trek in 2027; something which despite Blasi's statements, is likely to play a factor, taking into consideration how her performances have been superior to the riders who are on paper leading UAE at the Tour. The team has, in any way, several cards to play in the nine-day long race.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- for what?frieders311-11-2026
- Blah blah blah!frieders311-11-2026
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- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
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- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
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