Paula Blasi just won La Vuelta for UAE Team ADQ - But the Spanish super-talent should leave at the end of 2027

In women’s cycling, no name has been brighter over the past few months than Paula Blasi. The 23-year-old has emerged as a top star in the space of just a month. Since winning the Amstel Gold Race, her rise has been the kind that deserves a careful place in the history books. Because just three weeks later she won the 2026 Vuelta a España Femenina. Unsurprisingly, this leads to a lot of rumble in the transfer market; and UAE Team ADQ could well lose their newest leader.

According to Ciro Scognamiglio of La Gazzetta dello Sport, one of the best-sourced journalists in the transfer market, there are four other teams interested in the winner of the latest Vuelta a España Femenina: her current UAE Team ADQ, Lidl–Trek, Uno-X Mobility, and FDJ – Suez.

Off the victory at Amstel Gold Race, third at La Flèche Wallonne, fifth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes and the overall win at La Vuelta ahead of Anna van der Breggen; UAE have a confirmation on their roster, not just a promise. But at age 23, it is possible that the Spaniard can still evolve further on the bike.

In fact, UAE has already tabled a renewal offer to Blasi through the end of the 2029 season. That is, if the Spaniard decides to extend with the Emirati squad, she would stay at least three more seasons there, in addition to the current one. But that is said to be unlikely.

As noted, Paula Blasi’s breakthrough at the top level of women’s cycling has been one of the standout stories of the 2026 season. The Spanish rider has, in just a few months, gone from rising prospect to genuine international reference, propelled by a spectacular overall victory at the Vuelta a España Femenina.

Her rapid rise is also much due to her past in athletics, and a late change to professional cycling. After spending the first few months of 2025 with UAE's development team, only 12 months ago did she sign her first pro contract with the elite team. The talent was recognized, and the reigning European under-23 champion is wanted at UAE, but this might not be enough.