UAE TEAM ADQ

Italian cycling superstar Elisa Longo Borghini will race for UAE Team ADQ in 2025 after signing a three-year contract.

Italian cycling superstar Elisa Longo Borghini will race for UAE Team ADQ in 2025 after signing a three-year contract with the Women’s WorldTour team.

Longo Borghini has enjoyed a glittering career since turning professional in 2011, winning the Giro d’Italia Women in 2024 and the Tour of Flanders for the second time this season.

The current and five-time Italian national road champion has also triumphed in Strade Bianche, Paris-Roubaix Femmes, and the UAE Tour, and just returned home with two superb bronze medals at the recent UCI Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland.

The 32-year-old has established herself as a world-class athlete, both on and off the bike, and will be an inspiring leader for UAE Team ADQ in the Grand Tours and important one-day races.

Her ambitions for 2025 are clear - to be successful on the bike and target both the Giro d’Italia Women and the Tour de France Femmes. She will also have a leadership role in other stage races and the Spring Classics.

“I’m delighted to share the news that I’m joining UAE Team ADQ for the next three years. The team attracted me the most from the beginning because it’s an ambitious team and it aims to grow every year,” Longo Borghini said.

“This matches my character. I’m an ambitious person and I’m really looking forward to targeting many races with this team. I will try to defend my title at the Giro d’Italia, and try to win the Tour de France, and one of the Ardennes. As a world-class rider I’m also aiming to be a role model  and inspire the community of women in the UAE towards a healthy lifestyle,” she added.

UAE Team ADQ has made massive strides in the last two years and Longo Borghini’s arrival will help bring the team to an entirely new level.

“Elisa is not just a world leader; in our sport she is the representation of excellence. Her career commitment and consistent victories in both Grand Tours and one-day races shows the spirit of a true champion. Elisa brings a winning mentality and a generous experience that will inspire and boost our team to new heights,” said Melissa Moncada, the president and head of the team.

“From our very first conversations, it was clear that Elisa and UAE Team ADQ share a profound alignment in vision and purpose. Her mindset, personality, exemplary leadership style, and confidence determination to defend her Giro d’Italia title and excel in the Tour de France Femmes and the Spring Classics aligns deeply with our team’s ethos. We are dedicated to continuous improvement and development, and Elisa’s leadership will be the driving force behind our future successes. Together, we are ready to achieve greatness and inspire others along the way,” Moncada added.