“If she wants to be the next Pogacar in women’s cycling, she needs to be in a team that is ready” - Paula Blasi's UAE future saga continues

The future of Paula Blasi has become one of the major sagas in women’s cycling. The Spanish rider, one of the brightest prospects in the international peloton and winner of the Vuelta a España Femenina who is currently racing the Tour de France Femmes, is under contract with UAE Team L’IMAD until the end of 2027, but a €100,000 release clause has opened the door to a potential move to projects such as Movistar Team, Lidl-Trek, or Uno-X.

In an interview with Daniel Benson, the team’s president, Melissa Moncada, spoke candidly about Blasi’s situation, her future, and why she believes the Spaniard should remain with the squad. Moncada acknowledges there is uncertainty but insists the UAE project is the best place for the rider to reach her ceiling.

“Paula, I feel I’m very close to her because we share the same roots. I was born in Colombia and lived in Spain for a decade, so that brings me close to her as a rider. She has a particular story and I feel a connection because she is our development rider. I feel this sense of belonging and I’m proud to have her on our team,” Moncada explained.

The UAE executive believes Blasi is still uncovering her full potential and that any doubts she may have about the team’s structure are tied to her youth and limited experience. “Paula is very young and has great talent she’s still discovering. I’ve had many conversations with her, I’ve travelled to meet her, and I want to offer her the best the team can provide. I think Paula has a lot of doubts about the team, but I believe they come from inexperience because I’ve spoken with her many times and the perfect team doesn’t exist,” she said.

One of the key points fuelling rumours of a possible exit is the €100,000 release clause in her contract. Moncada took responsibility for allowing that condition and called it a mistake.

“Of course, it was a stupid mistake and, at the end of the day, I’m the only one responsible because the contract bears my signature. It was a stupid mistake, for sure, but it’s not just about the clause. The contract has more details. They also need my agreement, so we’ll see who can reach an agreement with me,” she acknowledged.

The UAE president stressed that Blasi remains a rider for the team until December 2027 and made clear she does not want to keep a cyclist who is unhappy within the structure. “Paula is our rider until December 2027, but I also don’t want to keep a rider who isn’t happy with us. In the end we do this out of love, and I think there are very few teams that represent their country; I think we’re the only team in the women’s peloton that represents a country. That’s very important,” she said.

On the rumours pointing to Movistar Team as the leading candidate to sign the Spaniard, Moncada admitted she understands the appeal of returning to a national project, but defended UAE’s financial and sporting capacity to develop Blasi.

“One of the reasons why Paula wants to leave, and the answer is still uncertain, is that she has great influence and wants to represent her country. She wants to be this champion of Spain and that’s why she feels so attracted to Movistar, but the decision hasn’t been made and Paula is my rider until the end of 2027,” she explained.

However, Moncada delivered a direct message about Blasi’s potential and compared her situation to that of Tadej Pogačar on the men’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG. For the executive, the Spaniard has the chance to become the leading figure in women’s cycling if she has the right structure around her.

“I think a rider should ask herself if she wants to be the next Pogačar of the women’s peloton. If she only wants to have fun, that’s easy, but if she wants to be the best, then she needs to be with a team prepared to make her the best, not today, but over the next five or eight years,” she said.

Moncada explained that Pogačar’s success isn’t solely down to the team’s budget, but to the complete investment around the rider. “It’s not just about Paula; it’s about investing in camps, coaches, everything she will need, and putting her on a bike designed exclusively for her, as Colnago does with our best riders. The competitive advantage we have means we go all-in,” she said.

The UAE president also moved to defend the stability of the project despite recent changes in team management and the departure of Yana Seel as team head. According to Moncada, Seel’s exit is unrelated to Blasi’s situation.

“I don’t think Yana is part of this. I know there have been many comments and articles, but the decision is Paula’s and only she knows what it will be. I don’t know what her decision will be. It might not even be Movistar,” she said.

On the possibility that another team will activate the clause, Moncada was clear: paying €100,000 is not enough. “No, they have to reach an agreement with me. They need my approval. One of the conditions of the clause is the team’s consent, but as I said, we don’t want to keep a rider who isn’t happy,” she explained.

The executive cited the case of Juan Ayuso, who left UAE Team Emirates-XRG after requesting to move on. “It’s the same thing that happened with Juan Ayuso: he wanted to leave, there was a financial understanding, and then he could go. Paula is still thinking. Alex Carera may know more, and Paula too, and I’m very happy to talk with any team,” she said.

For Moncada, Blasi’s decision could shape the future of UAE’s women’s project. The Spaniard has become the team’s emblem of ambition, and her staying would be a statement of intent to become the global reference point.

“I hope she makes a wise decision and won’t regret it in a couple of years. I know how confident I am in being able to provide her with the best,” Moncada concluded.