Take4 days ago
Blasi leaves UAE, says nobody set the direction
Paula Blasi has signed a three-year deal with Movistar after leaving UAE Team ADQ. She won La Vuelta Femenina in May, then went to the Tour de France Femmes as one of three possible leaders and finished fifth in Nice as a super-domestique for Elisa Longo Borghini. Her explanation for the exit is that when several riders can win, nobody sets the direction.
What this means
Movistar announced the signing on Wednesday 21 October 2026, almost three months into the transfer season. Cyclingnews reports everything is finalised, signed and approved by the UCI. Blasi will join Marlen Reusser at Movistar, and both are expected to be the clear GC leaders at Grand Tours and major stage races next season.
Blasi won La Vuelta Femenina in 2026, beating Anna van der Breggen on GC after the Angliru. At the Tour de France Femmes in August she was set up as a potential co-leader with Elisa Longo Borghini and Dominika Włodarczyk. UAE sports director Cherie Pridham said the strategy was to support Włodarczyk and Longo Borghini. Blasi became a super-domestique for Longo Borghini, who took a podium, and finished fifth in Nice herself. Her account to Laura Alvarez: «The decisions I would have liked weren't always made, and things weren't very clear. If you have three, four or five riders who can compete for a race and no clear direction is set, it ends up being a battle rather than a team effort.» She called the move a 'mixture of things', including management decisions. She also said she struggled to feel she had space and trust after her rapid development, and had to keep proving herself. Pridham told Cyclingnews at the end of the Tour that UAE had stuck to its plan throughout the race.
Sources
Blasi calls out tensions at UAE over leadership and her departure'Things weren't very clear' – Paula Blasi says UAE management decisions amongst 'mixture of things' that led to exit for MovistarMovistar ficha a Paula Blasi con uno de los mayores contratos del ciclismo femeninoPaula Blasi, rumbo al Movistar - AS.com'Time to race with a team that can accompany me in my ambitions' – The Paula Blasi transfer saga is over, as rising star confirms done deal with new teamPaula Blasi will leave UAE Team ADQ early to race for Movistar from 2027
Analysed 6 sources, written and summarised with AI · How we work