UAE TEAM ADQ

British all-rounder Elynor Bäckstedt has joined UAE Team ADQ on an exciting three-year deal.

British all-rounder Elynor Bäckstedt has joined UAE Team ADQ on an exciting three-year deal. 

The 22-year-old shot to fame as one of the most promising juniors in women’s cycling, winning the junior version of Gent-Wevelgem and twice finishing on the podium at the UCI Road World Championships. 

After five years at Lidl-Trek, Bäckstedt is ready for a new challenge and will link up with current teammates Elisa Longo Borghini and Brodie Chapman in 2025, as UAE Team ADQ takes the next step in its development. 

The chance to link up with Longo Borghini and Chapman was a factor in Bäckstedt’s decision-making. 

“I’ve been teammates with Elisa for five years, and Brodie for two. I get along with them and we work super well together. That was certainly a factor in the move across to UAE Team ADQ because they’re amazing teammates but I’m looking forward to getting to know all the riders,” Bäckstedt said.

“I can’t wait to help Elisa and the other riders but I’m also excited about the idea of sitting down with the coaches and setting new goals for myself. I want to improve my TT a bit more because that’s been on the backburner for the last couple of years and I’m excited to see what this move can bring out of me,” she added. 

For Bäckstedt, the move to UAE Team ADQ comes at the perfect time, and the rider is relishing the chance to continue her trajectory as an exemplary teammate and develop as a winner in her own right. 

“It felt like it was the right time for a change. That opened up conversations, and in the end, the chance to race for UAE Team ADQ. I got to know the feel of the team and the ins and outs of the culture within the group and that gave me a perspective on whether I could imagine myself fitting into the team. It was about trying to find a team where I felt I could excel in what I can do and UAE Team ADQ felt like an amazing opportunity,” Bäckstedt said.

Bäckstedt has watched UAE Team ADQ develop over the last two years and she has kept tabs on the team’s progress since their first steps into the WorldTour in 2023. A firmly established pro rider in her own right, Bäckstedt was impressed with the team’s development and how the WorldTour team has seamlessly dovetailed with a successful development project. 

“I really like that they’re such a professional team. I like that they’re always striving for improvements and I see a lot of potential within the team. It looks like a good place to be and I can’t wait to get stuck in and join them. Sometimes you just need a new challenge and this looks like a great one,” she said.

As a rider who came through the ranks at such a young age, Bäckstedt knows how important the development of young riders can be. Next year UAE Team ADQ will share resources with the development team, with sports directors working across rosters and riders moving across line-ups depending on form, development and other factors. Bäckstedt believes that such an environment will enhance the growth and potential of the younger riders, while also benefiting the more experienced athletes.

“UAE Team ADQ is an incredibly interesting team to watch because I like how they race. They go in exciting breaks and they race well as a team. It’s great that we can keep developing that and I think there will be chances for me to take my own opportunities. I like that they have the development team and they’re showing the young riders the ropes at a good pace. It’s going to be an exciting team to be part of.”

“It feels a bit crazy to think about the fact that I’m now one of the most experienced riders but it will be great to race with both sets of riders. I can still learn from them but they can learn from me. It’s a good setup, and one where we can all take the next step together, look forward and strive for success.”

Of course, Bäckstedt wants to use the next years to improve on an individual level too. Despite her incredible experience in the WorldTour, the rider firmly thinks that she has more to give and has a massive capacity to develop, both on and off the bike. A strong time trialist and a solid climber with an impressive final sprint, Bäckstedt aims to use her invaluable experience in Grand Tours and Classics to strengthen UAE Team ADQ, build on the team’s aggressive racing tactics and establish herself as a winner.

“I’d like to get stuck in at the front of more races and try and take a win because it has been a while since that happened to me. I had a tough start to the sport when moving up through juniors, so I missed a couple of years in that sense. I’ve developed a lot since then but I still feel like I have a lot more in me, so I’d love to take a win next year,” she said.

The move also sees Bäckstedt link up with Colnago, the iconic bike partner for UAE Team ADQ. For Bäckstedt the chance to ride on the Italian brand was too good to pass up.

“I actually used to race Colnago when I was a junior, so I’ve always loved those bikes and had a soft spot for them. I’m truly excited to be getting back on a Colnago next year. The rest of the equipment is incredible too and from speaking to the team you can see that so much time and thought has gone into choosing the right things for the team. I can’t wait to start riding my new bike,” she said.

Melissa Moncada, the president and head of the team, welcomed Bäckstedt to the team and highlighted the rider’s qualities. 

“We’re very excited to welcome Elynor to the team for the next three seasons. For a rider so young she has a huge amount of WorldTour experience and we are looking forward to her integrating all that knowledge and insight into our ever-improving team. Elynor has such enthusiasm and passion for racing at the highest level, and whilst she has firmly established herself in the WorldTour we also believe that there’s a huge amount of untapped potential inside her. The next few years are going to be incredibly exciting,” Moncada said.