El Massi Baix Ter, a pioneering force in Catalan women’s road cycling that served as a professional springboard for more than 16 riders who reached the World Tour, will cease operations entirely at the end of the current season due to a severe lack of funding, sponsors, and institutional backing. The dissolution impacts both the professional Massi Baix Ter Women’s Team and its developmental arm, the Baix Ter Women’s Academy, bringing an eight-year elite run to a close.
Mounting Financial Pressures Lead to Project Winding Down
The decision to wind down the project stems from mounting financial pressures that left the team unable to compete on equal footing with rival squads. Club president Sergi Güell explained that the organization could no longer sustain operations at either the UCI or national level without proper economic resources, materials, or structural support.
“We cannot do things the way we would like,” Güell stated, noting that the team was forced to attend races simply to endure rather than compete in proper conditions. He added that racing against heavily resourced structures with a minimal budget left staff and athletes working without satisfaction.
Güell noted that the squad had been competing halfway, operating on an overly low budget while attempting to manage both national and international calendars. He explained that the team was originally created to compete at the highest level, a standard it was no longer in a condition to maintain.
The professional pathway began in 2019, with the squad initially competing in the international UCI category for five seasons. However, a regulatory change enacted by the Spanish Cycling Federation in 2024 increased economic demands, forcing the club to drop down to the national category while still attempting to contest top-tier events such as the Vuelta a España.
Eight Seasons at the Elite Level of Road Cycling
Founded out of the Club Ciclista Baix Ter—an entity established in 1990 with roughly 200 members and a hundred cyclists—the women’s professional project officially began in 2019. The squad also secured notable victories at the Tour of Portugal and the Giro della Toscana.
A Vital Trampoline for Catalan Cycling Talent
Beyond its elite calendar, the organization functioned primarily as a development pathway designed to transition riders graduating from youth training into the professional ranks. To manage and enhance its female division, the club created the Baix Ter Women’s Academy, which was structured around a cadet squad and an elite squad known as the Massi Baix Ter Women’s Team. The project was originally conceived more than a decade ago to provide projection for young female riders leaving their formative stage.
More than 16 athletes advanced from the Massi setup directly into World Tour rosters over eight seasons. Among those homegrown talents are prominent Catalan riders Mireia Benito and Paula Blasi.
While the professional women’s team and the Baix Ter Women’s Academy will dissolve, the broader Club Ciclista Baix Ter and its youth cycling school will remain active.
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