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Jooris, Blasi, and Debarges: Three New Young Talents for UAE Development Team
October 30, 2024
UAE Development Team is pleased to introduce three more promising riders who will join the team for the 2025 season.
Following recent announcements confirming the retention of Ventutelli, Pellegrini, and Kunz, along with the signing of Scotland’s Eilidh Shaw, the UAE Development Team is pleased to introduce three more promising riders who will join the team for the 2025 season. The new recruits are Belgium’s Febe Jooris, who has signed a three-year deal (2025-2027), Spain’s Paula Blasi, on a two-year contract (2025-2026), and France’s Amalia Debarges, who has committed for the 2025 season.
Febe Jooris: A Time Trial Specialist with Classic Potential
Twenty-year-old Febe Jooris is a time trial specialist who has already made her mark in Belgian cycling history. In 2022, she became the first Belgian woman to win a medal in a World Championship time trial, earning bronze in the Women’s Junior category in Australia. Jooris, who has also secured two national ITT titles, is a versatile rider capable of excelling on mixed terrains, which makes her a strong contender for the classics. This year, she claimed three victories in time trials, including the Belgian National Championship for Under-23 Women, and achieved several top-10 finishes in international competitions.
Jooris, who hails from Deinze and spent the last two seasons with AG Insurance - Soudal NXTG, shared her reasons for joining the UAE Development Team: “The conversation I had with Cherie [Pridham, Head of Sport for UAE Team ADQ] felt really positive and gave me a strong sense of familiarity right away. I was attracted to the team’s commitment to rider development, which is why I chose to join,” she explained.
“The opportunity to race alongside the WorldTour team is a big plus. I’ve always admired the way they race together as a unified team.”
Describing herself as a rider, Jooris added: “I enjoy tough races with wind and rain, typical Belgian conditions. I also have a good time trial ability and want to develop further in this discipline. I’m looking forward to learning more about aerodynamics and improving my skills.”
Reflecting on her season, she said: “It didn’t start well due to bad luck with my bikes and some crashes, but I knew things would eventually turn around. Winning the U23 TT and road titles was a great reward for my hard work. I’m pleased with my summer performances and look forward to contributing to a strong team next year.”
For the 2025 season, Jooris is optimistic: “We’ll have a super strong lineup with different skills. I hope to bring my hard-riding style to the team and achieve some good results. I’m excited to learn from my teammates and become a better version of myself year after year. My personal goals include improving in all kinds of races, especially the classics and stage races with time trials.”
Paula Blasi: From Duathlon to Cycling
The story of 21-year-old Paula Blasi is truly remarkable. Just months ago, she wasn’t a cyclist. As she told us: “Up until late February, I was preparing for the Duathlon National Championship. An unexpected injury forced me to withdraw, and during my recovery, cycling was my only training option. That’s when I joined a Catalan cycling team and, in March 2024, raced for the first time. I immediately fell in love with the sport.”
Since then, Blasi has made rapid progress, claiming five wins, including the Catalunya road and ITT titles, and the general classification at the Volta Ciclista a Osona. She was also named the best young rider at the Giro Toscana Femminile and has already worn the Spanish national team jersey at both the Tour de l’Avenir Femmes and the recent World Championships in Zurich.
Blasi chose to sign with the UAE Development Team for several reasons: “Their focus on fostering a team environment rather than just individual success aligns with my values. After learning about the team’s philosophy, I knew it was the right place for me, where I could grow as a cyclist and person. The solid infrastructure supporting the development team gives me confidence that I’ll have a safe space to learn from the best.”
Aiming to refine her race skills, Blasi noted: “I see myself primarily as a climber who excels on long, challenging ascents. I also enjoy time trials and hope to continue improving. This season has been a positive one for me, particularly with my performances at the Tour de l’Avenir. Competing in the World Championships was a great learning experience, even though it wasn’t my best day.”
Looking ahead, Blasi plans to work on race awareness and tactics: “My focus will be on better understanding race dynamics and staying at the front to support my teammates. I also want to enhance my aero position and time trial technique.”
Amalia Debarges: A Rising French Talent
The youngest of the new recruits, 18-year-old Amalia Debarges, has already showcased her potential in the junior ranks. She won the Classique Féminine du Val de Morteau and finished second at the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Championships. She also secured podium spots in the Gent-Wevelgem Junior Women and the French Junior National Championships road race, in addition to top-10 finishes at the Tour of Flanders for Junior Women and the Piccolo Trofeo Alfredo Binda.
Debarges, from Bourget du Lac in Savoie, has been cycling since the age of five and is passionate about the sport. “I chose UAE Development Team because their project really appealed to me, and I felt a strong connection with the staff and riders,” she said.
“I see myself as a sprinter and puncher, and I had a great season at both the national and international levels, despite a crash during the final sprint at the European Championships.”
Debarges aims to improve her endurance and race-reading skills with the UAE Development Team: “I’m committed to developing teamwork through communication and mutual support. I’m sure my new teammates and I will build a great feeling. I still have work to do, especially in handling long, intense efforts and fully dedicating myself to a team leader.”
Building a Strong Future
Melissa Moncada, President and Head of UAE Team ADQ, expressed her enthusiasm for the new additions: “With these young riders' energy, passion, and amazing potential, we’re proud to welcome three of the brightest talents in international cycling to the UAE Development Team. Our commitment is to nurture their growth by providing the necessary resources and opportunities and a supportive and inspiring environment where they can truly thrive. We believe in their future and are excited to be part of their journeys.”
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