The setback has not knocked Paula Blasi off her stride as she targets another peak in a standout season. The Spaniard began 2026 under the radar, but since her spectacular win at the Amstel Gold Race Ladies, her rise has been rapid and includes not only a GC win at La Vuelta, but talks of a transfer and a salary that could top that of any other female pro cyclist.
Paula Blasi, a star in women’s cycling
She arrived at the UAE structure from the ground up, taking on a development role that quickly proved too small for her talent. “At UAE I came in like on the development team, like a Barça C, let’s say. Grow, learn, and I think my rise has been so fast that for some teammates it’s hard to see that maybe I’m a leader”, she explains.
This accelerated transition is a challenge, as stepping from apprentice to winner in barely a year breaks the usual mould.
Difficulties for teammates to accept her leadership within the team
Although she recognizes that a change of scene would hand her the captain’s stripes straight away, Blasi opts for prudence: “You see a girl who a year ago didn’t know how to ride a bike and suddenly she’s winning a stage race, and you say, I have to work for her. Sure, if I join another team now as a designated leader, that’s different. But I’m telling you, right now at UAE I’m very happy and we’ll see what happens”.
Beyond cementing her results, the Catalan maintains a strong bond with races at home, especially the local tour, an event that marked her beginnings in the UCI ranks.
Blasi keeps vivid memories of that race, where she took her first pedal strokes at the top level, but also where she suffered a heavy crash that still echoes in her mind and kept her from starting the recent edition. “One of my first UCI races was two years ago at the Volta a Catalunya. I had a very, very bad crash and last week I couldn’t race it”, she laments.
For her, racing in front of home fans goes beyond chasing results; it is a key platform to inspire new generations and show that the summit is within reach.
“The Volta a Catalunya is the race back home. One of my aims is also to promote cycling a bit more. The best thing I can do is go to the Volta and show that a normal girl like me can be up there among the best”, she reflects, making clear her short-term goal in front of her crowd: “Nothing would make me happier than raising my arms there”.