UAE Team ADQ kicks off its first boot camp in Abu Dhabi

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

UAE Team ADQ, the UAE’s professional Women’s World Tour (WWT) cycling team, that is accredited by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), touched down in Abu Dhabi for its first boot camp training.

During their 10-day visit to Abu Dhabi, all 15 riders will be participating in team training sessions on the traditional Cycling Landscape of Abu Dhabi (Al Hudayriyat Island, Al Wahtba, and Yas Marina Circuit) and attending various sponsor events.

The team participated in a community activity in Yas Marina Circuit on Monday.

The event named “Women Community Ride” was open to all women, interested in cycling in Abu Dhabi, regardless of their cycling level, to join the UAE Team ADQ pro-riders on a tour around the circuit.

Established in 2021 as the first women’s professional cycling team in the Middle East, UAE Team ADQ’s riders hail from New Zealand, Belarus, Canada, Slovenia, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, and the UAE, and compete among 14 other international teams in Women’s World Tour races.

UAE Team ADQ’s Marta Bastianelli, is ranked fifteenth worldwide by the UCI, and has won in previous World, European and Italian Championships, Gent-Wevelgem, and Ronde van Vlaanderen.

This year, with UAE Team ADQ, she secured seven victories: the Vuelta CV Feminas and a stage at the Setmana Valenciana in Spain, the Omloop van het Hageland in Belgium, a stage and the final classification at the Festival Elsy Jacobs in Luxembourg and two stages at the Bretagne Ladies Tour in France, as well as an excellent second place in a stage at the Tour de France Femmes.

The Team’s Sofia Bertizzolo has also made remarkable achievements. She returned to victory in Italy with a Silver medal at the Trofeo Oro in Euro, another 2nd podium at the Trofeo Binda in Cittiglio and the Giro dell'Emilia, in Italy, and at the Women's Tour in Great Britain.

Eugenia Bujak confirmed herself as Slovenian National Road Cycling Champion in 2022 and won a silver medal at the ITT race at Mediterranean Games in Algeria. UAE Team ADQ is also welcoming the talented Silvia Persico, who was a bronze medallist at the recent UCI Road Cycling World Championships in Australia, and Chiara Consonni, winner of five races this year including the final stage in the Giro Donne and Gold at World Championships in Team Time Trial 2022.

Emirati rider Safiya Al Sayegh, first Arab female professional WWT cyclist had a successful season with the National Team and closed it by bringing home six medals from the Track Arab Championships, including two gold, three silver and one bronze. For the third year in a row, she won both the National Championship Road and Individual time trial (ITT) race.

Melissa Moncada, head of UAE Team ADQ said: “UAE Team ADQ is founded on an ambitious vision to advance the standing of women in cycling and to inspire the UAE community to get more active in sport. The aim is to reinforce our commitment to provide opportunities for female athletes who choose to pursue cycling at the highest level.

“This boot camp will bring all UAE Team ADQ’s riders together in Abu Dhabi for the first time to train and bond together. As part of our mission to be part of the wider cycling community in the UAE, we are pleased to welcome three talented cycling amateurs.”

Safiya said: “I’m honoured to be part of the inspiring UAE Team ADQ and to train with some of the experienced riders on the UCI World Tour.  Our ambition is to be the best in the world, and it is wonderful to have the entire country behind us as the only team from the region to compete at this level.

“It is equally important for us to harness local talent and engage young people in the community, especially since cycling is becoming quite a phenomenon in the UAE, which is really exciting to see.”

UAE Team ADQ members are preparing for the new UCI World Tour 2023 races and events, including the Trio of Grand Tours: Tour de France Femmes, Giro Donne, and Challenge by La Vuelta.