Paula Blasi’s Rise: How the 23-Year-Old UAE Team Star Is Redefining Women’s Cycling
June 12, 2024
Paula Blasi, the 23-year-old Catalan prodigy of the UAE Team, is poised to win La Vuelta Femenina this weekend—her first Grand Tour victory—and is already being positioned as one of the most formidable talents in women’s cycling ahead of the Tour de France in August. Since May, Blasi has dominated every race she’s entered, including stage wins at the Tour of Norway and the Giro Rosa, while her UAE Team squad has cemented itself as the dominant force in the peloton. With one eye on La Vuelta’s final stage in Madrid and the other on the Tour’s grueling mountain stages, Blasi’s ascent raises questions about whether she’s ready to challenge the sport’s elite.
Why Blasi’s La Vuelta Campaign Matters More Than Just a Stage Win
La Vuelta Femenina, which concludes on June 16 in Madrid, is Blasi’s first Grand Tour as a full-time professional. Her UAE Team squad—backed by a budget that rivals men’s WorldTour teams—has been built around her potential, and a victory here would signal her arrival as a contender for the Tour de France, where she’ll face cyclists like Annemiek van Vleuten, Demi Vollering, and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio.
“She’s not just winning stages; she’s dictating the race,” said Jordi López, head coach of the UAE Team Women. “Her climbing ability is elite-level, and her recovery between stages is something we’ve never seen at this age.”
Blasi’s dominance isn’t just about raw talent. Her team’s data-driven approach—using power meters and biomechanical analysis—has allowed her to optimize her effort on climbs like the Alto de la Pradera Rubia, where she attacked on Stage 5 to secure her first Grand Tour stage win. “She’s learning how to use her strength where it matters most,” added López.
Key Stats: Blasi’s Unstoppable Spring Form
| Race | Date | Result | Notable Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour of Norway | May 10–12, 2024 | Stage 2 Winner | Attacked on the final climb to win by 15 seconds |
| Giro Rosa | May 25–June 2, 2024 | Stage 4 Winner | Took the pink jersey lead after a solo effort |
| La Vuelta Femenina | June 1–16, 2024 | Current leader (yellow jersey) | Leads by 2 minutes, 15 seconds with 3 stages left |
How Blasi’s Tactics Differ From the Elite
Blasi’s success stems from a blend of physical attributes and tactical discipline. Unlike many young climbers who rely on brute strength, she uses a high-cadence, efficient pedaling technique that conserves energy for the final kilometers. “She doesn’t just climb—she controls the climb,” said Dr. Marco Pedretti, a sports physiologist at the UAE Team’s training center in Italy.
Her ability to read the race early is another standout. In La Vuelta’s Stage 5, she abandoned the peloton at the base of the climb, knowing her teammates would neutralize the field while she built a gap. “She’s not just reacting; she’s predicting,” said López. “That’s the difference between a stage winner and a Grand Tour champion.”
Yet, challenges remain. Blasi’s own words reveal her humility: “It’s strange to think I could be someone’s idol. But I know I have to keep proving myself.” Her next test comes in August at the Tour de France, where the competition will be far stiffer.
From Catalan Amateur to UAE Team Star: The Journey So Far
Blasi’s path to the UAE Team wasn’t linear. Born in Vilassar de Mar, Catalonia, she began cycling at age 12, inspired by her father, a local bike racer. By 2020, she was racing for the Catalunya Caixa team before being poached by the UAE squad in 2022—a move that gave her access to world-class coaching and resources.
Her breakthrough came in 2023, when she won the National Road Race Championship and finished third at the UCI Road World Championships. “She’s not just a climber; she’s a complete rider,” said Joan Font, her former coach at the Catalan federation. “The UAE Team saw that potential early.”
Now, with La Vuelta on the line, Blasi’s story mirrors that of Anna van der Breggen and Marta Bastianelli—cyclists who used Grand Tours as a springboard to global stardom. But at 23, she’s still young enough to avoid the pitfalls of early specialization. “She’s got time to develop,” said López. “But if she wins La Vuelta, that timeline just got a lot shorter.”
What Happens Next: Blasi’s Path to the Tour de France
Blasi’s focus now shifts to La Vuelta Femenina’s final stage in Madrid on June 16, where she’ll need to hold off Mavi García (Team Jayco AlUla) and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Lidl-Trek), both of whom are within striking distance. A victory would make her the first Spanish woman to win a Grand Tour since Marta Bastianelli in 2019.
But the real test comes in August at the Tour de France, where the competition will be far more intense. “The Tour is where you see the difference between good and great,” said Font. “She’s ready, but the peloton will test her in ways La Vuelta hasn’t.”
Blasi’s UAE Team squad has already begun high-altitude training in the Pyrenees, preparing for the Tour’s mountain stages. “We’re treating this like a dress rehearsal,” said López. “If she can win La Vuelta, the Tour becomes her next challenge—not her first.”
Key Dates to Watch
- June 16, 2024 – La Vuelta Femenina Final Stage (Madrid)
- July 7–28, 2024 – Tour de France Femmes (Starts in York, UK)
- August 10–18, 2024 – Women’s Olympic Road Race (Paris 2024)
FAQ: What You Need to Know About Paula Blasi’s Campaign
1. How does Blasi compare to other young stars like Lotte Kopecky?
While Lotte Kopecky (24) is known for her explosive sprints, Blasi’s strength lies in climbing and time-trialing. Kopecky has won more stages in recent years, but Blasi’s Grand Tour potential is higher due to her FT30 climbing category performance.
2. What’s the UAE Team’s strategy for the Tour de France?
The UAE Team will use Blasi as their primary GC contender, with Mavi García as a secondary rider. Their goal is to control the race in the mountains while protecting Blasi’s lead. “We’re not just racing for stages; we’re racing for the yellow jersey,” said López.
3. Could Blasi win the Tour de France this year?
It’s possible but unlikely. The Tour is a 22-stage marathon, and Blasi’s biggest challenges will be consistency and avoiding crashes. Her best chance is if she can win multiple stages and build a lead early, similar to Annemiek van Vleuten’s 2023 victory.
How to Follow Paula Blasi’s Campaign
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Next up: La Vuelta Femenina Final Stage (June 16, 2024, Madrid). Tune in to watch history unfold.
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