UAE Team ADQ

UAE Team ADQ have gone through several incarnations in the 12 years since their inception, starting out as an Italian Continental team but now flourishing as a United Arab Emirates-registered WorldTour outfit. 

The team have had an impressive list of riders pass through their ranks, including Nicole Cooke, Chloe Hosking, Mavi García, and Marta Bastianelli.

Since being taken over by the powers behind the UAE Team Emirates men’s team in 2022, the team have strengthened their roster with the arrival of several riders from Valcar Travel & Service, which has now become the team’s official development squad. 

The team's leading light is Silvia Persico, who possesses the golden combination of good climbing and good sprinting, with results in the Classics and stage races alike. They also have fellow Italian Chiara Consonni as a purer sprinter along with the likes of Eleonora Gasparrini, Erica Magnaldi, and Sofia Bertizzolo. 

The team have already won some big races and made strides in the past few years but they have continued growth in their sights under the UAE management.

Chiara Consonni

Silvia Persico

Karlijn Swinkels

Eleonora Gasparrini

Erica Magnaldi

Dominika Wlodarczyk

Sofia Bertizzolo

Eugenia Bujak

Lara Gillespie

Safia Al Sayegh

Alena Ivanchenko

Alena Amialiusik

Tereza Neumanova

Mikayla Harvey

Elizabeth Holden

Karolina Kumiega

Anastasia Carbonari

Racing

Analysis

UAE Team ADQ Team Talk: Reaping the rewards of new development pathway

The inaugural UAE Tour Women saw the home team finish third on GC through Silvia Persico, and take the overall team classification

, the team formerly known as Alé BTC Ljubljana rose from seventh in the 

 up to fourth by the end of 2023. This move is indicative of the improvements that were made by the team this season, no doubt aided by the dissolution of Valcar-Travel & Service at the end of 2022. 

The Italian Continental side closed over the winter and transitioned into 

, with five riders making the move straight to UAE Team ADQ's WorldTour squad: 

Over half of the team's victories this year were taken by the new signings, as UAE Team ADQ notched up a series of notable victories, including their first Grand Tour stage under their new moniker. 

Turning their attention to 2024, the team will hope to see some of their younger riders progress further and the team's victory tally rise, but 2023 was another good step forward for team boss Melissa Moncada's squad. 

With the new additions from Valcar-Travel & Service, alongside those of 

 (both from Canyon-SRAM), the Emirati WorldTeam went a long way in replacing the firepower lost with the departure of 

Taking a bolstered squad into the 2023 campaign, UAE Team ADQ picked up 13 victories throughout the course of the season, which for any team other than the imperious SD Worx, is a commendable haul. 

SD Worx Team Talk: How can the dominant force in women's cycling get any better?

This number may be down on the team's 17 victories from 2022, but five of those were taken at National Championships and this year's victories were arguably taken in more prestigious races. 

The year started brightly for UAE Team ADQ and new signing Persico, who was the best of the rest on Jebel Hafeet's summit finish at the UAE Tour Women, behind Trek-Segafredo's 

With this being the inaugural edition of the UAE Tour Women, it was always going to be an important target for the UAE's first WorldTeam, and the squad duly delivered - with Persico finishing third on GC and the team winning the team classification. 

After having been a flagship rider for the team in its various guises since 2016, the expected retirement of 

 at the end of the 2022 season seemed like it would be inevitably a big loss for UAE Team ADQ. It was a welcome sight, however, to see Bastianelli postpone her retirement until the end of the 2023 Giro d'Italia Donne. The former world champion wasted no time in showing that her determination had not waned, picking up the team's first victory of the season at Les Samyn des Dames in February as they kicked off a successful Spring.

Silvia Persico sprinted to victory ahead of Demi Vollering (SD Worx) and Liane Lippert (Movistar) at De Brabantse Pijl, a result that seemed imminent after she took sixth place at Trofeo Alfredo Binda and fourth place at the Tour of Flanders. Two top-10s followed at Amstel Gold and Liège-Bastogne-Liège as Persico rounded off a very impressive Spring campaign. 

In the weeks prior, Consonni finished second at Dwars door Vlaanderen and Bastianelli placed third at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, with both riders only missing out on the win in the face of remarkable performances from SD Worx. Consonni's quick finish delivered her to the win at Trofee Maarten Wynants in May, but it was in the stage races that UAE Team ADQ flourished for the rest of the season.

Bastianelli had kicked things off by winning stage 1 of the Ceratizit Festival Elsy Jacobs, before Gasparrini opened up her account with her new team with victory on stage 3 at the Tour de Suisse. The 21-year-old's win was the team's first in a WorldTour race, but they would not wait long to add to that tally. 

Ever the reliable sprinter when well positioned, Consonni handed UAE Team ADQ their biggest win of the season on stage 9 of the Giro d'Italia Donne. In pipping Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Ally Wollaston (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step) to the line in Olbia, Consonni picked up the first Grand Tour stage win since the team became Emirati. 

Five of the team's eight winners this season were new signings for 2023, the last of whom was the Canadian Baril, who came up trumps at the Tour Féminin de l'Ardèche to take a one-two alongside teammate Erica Magnaldi on the final stage. Magnaldi's performance secured her second overall to mark another consistent season for the Italian climber. 

The French stage race may have been Magnaldi's best result on paper in 2023, but she will be most pleased with fifth place at the Giro d'Italia Donne. 

As with Magnaldi, it wasn't all about the new signings for UAE Team ADQ this season. 26-year-old climber Sofia Bertizzolo was quiet for much of the first half of the year, but picked up a series of top-10s in the final months of the season and managed to win both stage 1 and the points classification at the Tour de Romandie Féminin in September. 

With an emphasis on sprinters and puncheurs within their squad, it is perhaps not a surprise that UAE Team ADQ did not pull up too many trees in terms of general classification victories this season. 

The Emirati squad had to wait until the final WorldTour stage race of the season to pick up their first overall victory, with Consonni finishing fourth, third and first in the three stages of the Tour of Chongming Island. Her consistency earned her both the overall title and the points classification come the end of the race.  

A dependable, if not spectacular, season for UAE Team ADQ is perhaps in line with their expectations as they slowly build under the new team structure. 

UAE Team ADQ's Top Five in 2023

Having preempted the moment since the midway point of the 2022 campaign, UAE Team ADQ enjoyed plenty of time to prepare for the retirement of veteran Marta Bastianelli. Having postponed her farewell this time last year, the Italian finally pulled the curtain down on a fine career at the Giro d'Italia Donne.

With Chiara Consonni having arrived from Valcar-Travel & Service over the winter, the team have been able to benefit from a classic master/apprentice situation, with Consonni the undisputed heir to Bastianelli's throne. Both are similar riders and the former has already more than demonstrated her ability to lead the team in Bastianelli's absence. 

For that reason, it feels the time is right for Bastianelli to draw the curtain down on her third and final spell with the team.

Elsewhere, the biggest loss for the team will be felt in the form of Olivia Baril's departure to Movistar. The Canadian had made quite a name for herself with her performances in her first season with UAE Team ADQ. Nevertheless, it should be remembered that Baril was a diamond in the rough when she made the step up to WorldTour level, and UAE Team ADQ will hope to have a similarly positive impression on new recruit Dominika Włodarczyk. The 22-year-old joins from MAT Atom Deweloper Wrocław and looks to have the making of an impressive climber. 

Joining the Polish rider in bolstering UAE Team ADQ's ranks will be Tereza Neumanova (Liv Racing TeqFind) and Karlijn Swinkels (Jumbo-Visma), the latter of whom looks to be quite the well-rounded GC talent. 

Where UAE Team ADQ's wins will come in 2024 

Swinkels may hit the ground running and prove herself in some of the early season stage races, but the majority of the victories for UAE Team ADQ will come from within their existing roster.

Consonni is the headline act and, at 24 years of age, is ripe to make the step up and fill Bastianelli's role as the team's flagship rider. The sprinting division within the Women's WorldTour peloton is largely run by Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) and Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich), but Consonni should be mopping up at races these two don't feature in. 

Meanwhile, eyes will turn to Persico, Bertizzolo and Magnaldi to chip in with regular victories and good results, all of whom can realistically target stage wins in the Grand Tours. For Persico in particular, 2024 will be an important season, given her steady rise to becoming one of the peloton's strongest climbers. 

Four top-10s in the Giro d'Italia Donne this year accompanied an eighth-place finish overall, and there is certainly a sense she can improve on this standing, alongside those of 12th at La Vuelta Femenina and 14th at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. 

Although the likes of Persico, Bastianelli and Consonni took much of the plaudits for UAE Team ADQ in 2023, one rider who enjoyed a consistent season was the young Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini. At just 21 years of age, 2023 was only her third season in the pro ranks, but she proved more than at home alongside the world's best.

Her best spell of form came earlier in the campaign, with impressive rides at Ceratizit Festival Elsy Jacobs, RideLondon Classique and Tour de Suisse peaking with a stage victory in the latter. 

The Italian is a strong climber but also packs a handy sprint, as seen in the Tour de Suisse. Improving year on year thus far in the peloton, Gasparrini should be a good bet to at least pick up a victory or two in 2024, whilst further establishing herself in stage races. 

How do you think UAE Team ADQ will fare without Marta Bastianelli and Olivia Baril next season? Can they become one of the Women's WorldTour's best three teams? Let us know in the comments below! 

News

Race News

Elisa Longo Borghini set to join UAE Team ADQ

 winner agreeing on a multiple-year deal with the team.

The move brings to an end the Italian’s long association with 

 and sees her take on a leadership role at UAE Team ADQ. 

According to several sources within the peloton, the move was agreed earlier this month with Longo Borghini impressed with the team’s plans on development and structure for the future. No comment from UAE Team ADQ was made when contacted by 

Longo Borghini had been in contract negotiations with Lidl-Trek earlier this spring and has enjoyed a hugely successful season, winning the Tour of Flanders for a second time and finishing third in the overall standings at the Vuelta Femenina earlier this month.

Elisa Longo Borghini happy with strong spring campaign despite slipping to third overall at Vuelta Femenina

UAE Team ADQ are revamping their team ahead of 2025 and have made significant management changes over the last six months, bringing in several new staff members with experience and know-how to their structure. 

The team was born out of the Valcar squad, with UAE Team ADQ officially launching in 2023. With continued investment and a strong platform the team has looked to bolster their squad in the transfer market, with Longo Borghini set to become a leader in the Grand Tours and one-day Classics.

The team has won six races in 2024 so far but the project hopes to become the biggest women’s WorldTour squad in the world over the next few years. Several riders are on the team’s radar for 2025 as they build the project, and new arrivals are set to be announced in an official capacity in August.

There are reports that Elisa Longo Borghini will bring her long term coach to the team and according to sources the squad see the versatile Italian as a vital leader on and off the road for the next few years.

Tech

Tech News

MET releases team edition Manta and Trenta 3K carbon road helmets

 has announced that it will be making its Manta and Trenta 3K carbon performance road helmets available in the colours of both the men’s and women’s UAE road teams.

Available directly from MET, the limited-edition colourways are said to, “celebrate the spirit of racing and the riders who inspire us to push beyond our limits."

-edition helmet, “exudes classic style and pure speed.” The design focuses on a metallic white that fades into an iridescent green. Around the tail vents of the helmets are red accents reminiscent of the WorldTeam's colour palette.

MET reveals new ‘Undyed White’ limited edition colourway for its performance road helmets

For those looking for a more flamboyant touch, the limited-edition 

 helmet could be more to your liking. The brand say that this colour scheme, “recalls the sunset over the desert.” It features a black perimeter and a bold colour fade across the centre of the helmet.

This is the latest limited-edition run from MET, having announced earlier in the year that a new limited-edition ‘undyed white’ collection would be available across its performance road helmets.

Last year the brand also partnered with UAE Team Emirates superstar 

Pogačar-edition version of the Trenta 3K

, featuring an iridescent colourway that was unique to every helmet.

What is the right helmet for me: Aero or vented?

Both the UAE Team Emirates and UAE Team ADQ colourways are available now from MET, with the Trenta 3K retailing for €330 and the Manta retailing for €260.

Which colourway would you go for? The clean white or the more bold and colourful dessert sunset? Let us know in the comments section below and for even more tech news, head to the 

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UAE Team ADQ

UAE Team ADQ

The Team

Top UAE Team ADQ Stories

UAE Team ADQ Team Talk: Reaping the rewards of new development pathway

Elisa Longo Borghini set to join UAE Team ADQ

MET releases team edition Manta and Trenta 3K carbon road helmets

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Name	Age	UCI Career Wins	UCI Points
Chiara Consonni	24	16	2363
Silvia Persico	26	5	1676
Karlijn Swinkels	25	4	1180
Eleonora Gasparrini	22	4	833
Erica Magnaldi	31	1	772