UAE Development Team is pleased to announce the signing of Rinata Sultanova, who will join the team starting from the 2026 season. The Kazakh rider is 27 years old.
Rinata began cycling at the age of nine, initially as a way to share time and interests with friends, before gradually turning that early passion into a clear sporting ambition. Over the years, focus, discipline and determination have shaped her development, while maintaining a strong enjoyment of the daily work and the competitive journey.
A specialist in the individual time trial, Sultanova has already achieved significant success at continental level. She claimed the Asian ITT title in 2022, while also winning the Asian Mixed Team Time Trial on three occasions. In 2023, she secured the bronze medal in the time trial at the Summer Asian Games, confirming her ability to perform on major international stages. At national level, Rinata is a two-time Kazakh road race champion and a two-time national ITT champion, and has also collected multiple podium finishes at the Asian Track Championships, alongside appearances in Track World Cups, highlighting her strength, versatility and power.
Her move to UAE Development Team marks an important step in her career and represents the first tangible outcome of a new strategic collaboration between the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation, led by President Raimbek Batalov, and UAE Team ADQ, under the leadership of President Melissa Moncada and Team Principal Yana Seel. This partnership has been created with the aim of identifying, supporting and developing female cycling talent in Asia and worldwide, providing female riders with a structured and international pathway to grow and to develop the female cycling in general.
“Our UAE Development Team has reached a level of maturity that allows it to actively contribute to international cooperation in women’s cycling, working alongside national federations and continental institutions. The arrival of Rinata represents a concrete step in this direction, reflecting a shared commitment with the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation to athlete development within the Asian Cycling Confederation. By combining expertise, structure, and long-term vision, the objective is to support her preparation for major targets such as the Asian Games, while continuing to strengthen women’s cycling at an international level”, said Melissa Moncada, President of UAE Team ADQ.
“I would like to thank Yana Seel and the entire team for the opportunity to race with UAE Development Team in 2026,” added Sultanova. “I’m really looking forward to my first races, to testing myself and progressing step by step. My main personal goal is the next Asian Games in Japan, and I want to prepare in the best possible way to fight for victory. For the team, I will always give my maximum and do the work that is required to help achieve strong results.”
With the addition of Rinata Sultanova, UAE Development Team continues to strengthen its long-term vision for the development of women’s cycling, building international partnerships and creating meaningful opportunities for emerging talents.
