Phoenix 24
Spanish women’s cycling enters a new era of ambition.
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Spanish women’s cycling is experiencing a remarkable transformation, with 23-year-old Paula Blasi emerging as one of the sport’s leading figures while veteran Mavi García continues to demonstrate the importance of experience and longevity. Their contrasting career trajectories illustrate a period of renewed international competitiveness for Spain, strengthened by major victories, emerging talent and growing investment in professional women’s cycling.
Blasi’s extraordinary 2026 season has established her among the most accomplished riders in the international peloton. The Catalan cyclist secured the overall title at La Vuelta Femenina, becoming the first Spanish rider to win the race, and added victories at the Amstel Gold Race, the Tour Féminin des Pyrénées and the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.
Her performances also extended to the Tour de France Femmes, where she finished fifth overall and demonstrated her ability to compete against established international contenders. These results marked an unusually rapid progression for a rider who was still competing at amateur level in 2024.
The breakthrough has produced an important career transition. On October 21, Movistar Team officially announced that Blasi would join the Spanish WorldTour organization for three seasons beginning in 2027, ending her association with UAE Team ADQ.
The move reflects more than a change of professional colors. Blasi has explained that she wanted a team offering greater confidence in her sporting ambitions and a clearer environment for continued development. At Movistar, she will join established international competitors including Marlen Reusser and Liane Lippert, strengthening a roster designed to compete across major stage races and one-day classics.
Her arrival also coincides with the development of promising younger Spanish cyclists and the broader international recruitment strategy pursued by Movistar. For the organization, combining established champions with emerging talent provides opportunities to build competitive continuity rather than depend on isolated individual performances.
Meanwhile, Mavi García remains an influential figure in Spanish cycling at 42. The experienced rider has extended her agreement with UAE Team ADQ through 2027, demonstrating a commitment to continue competing after a career that has included national championships, international victories and major performances for Spain.
García’s experience offers an important contrast to Blasi’s rapid ascent. Having developed into an elite cyclist later than many professional competitors, she has sustained her career through physical preparation, tactical experience and an ability to adapt to increasingly demanding competition.
Their connection was particularly visible during preparations for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, where both were selected as leaders of Spain’s women’s road racing team. Blasi represented the country’s emerging generation, while García brought extensive international experience and a record of competing successfully against leading riders.
The championship ultimately illustrated the unpredictable nature of elite cycling. Blasi was involved in a crash during the road race and subsequently withdrew from the European Championships in Slovenia after failing to recover in time. The setback interrupted her international ambitions but did not diminish the significance of her achievements throughout the season.
Her overall performances were recognized in the final TOP Ciclo 21 women’s ranking, which named Blasi Spain’s leading professional female road cyclist of 2026. She finished with a record 1,328 points and seven victories, substantially ahead of Usoa Ostolaza and Mireia Benito. García finished fourth, reflecting her continued presence among the country’s prominent competitors.
The ranking also illustrates a changing competitive landscape. García had previously dominated the national classification across multiple seasons, while Blasi’s emergence signals the arrival of a younger rider capable of collecting major international results.
Beyond individual performances, their careers highlight the importance of sustainable development within women’s professional cycling. Competitive progress depends on access to well-resourced teams, appropriate training environments, experien