UAE TEAM ADQ

French all-rounder Maëva Squiban has joined UAE Team ADQ on a two-year contract.

French all-rounder Maëva Squiban has joined UAE Team ADQ on a two-year contract. 

The high-flying 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in 2024 for Arkéa - B&B Hotels Women, winning a time trial stage at the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche and finishing second on a tough stage of the Tour de France Femmes. Her arrival at UAE Team ADQ will bolster the team’s stage racing ambitions, while Squiban hopes to continue her fast-paced progression once she joins the WorldTour for the first time in her career. 

“We started talking in September and going to the WorldTour with UAE Team ADQ is an exciting move for my career. I want to improve my level as a rider and take on the biggest races in the world and now I’ll do that alongside a fantastic team. Even in a short amount of time, I’ve really enjoyed the spirit and atmosphere within the team,” Squiban said.

Hailing from Britanny in France, Squiban made a name for herself as a promising junior. She won the Chrono des Nations time trial as a promising first year junior before taking silver in the time trial at the European Continental Championships a season later. Squiban developed through the ranks, combining her passion for racing with her studies in sports management. Once her university qualifications were achieved in 2023 Squiban concentrated on cycling and her results in 2024 demonstrated a clear indication of her qualities on the bike. 

Now she has the chance to race alongside many of the best riders in the world, including new team leader Elisa Longo Borghini and many established riders already with UAE Team ADQ. A highly motivated Squiban is ready for the challenge. 

“This will be my first time racing for a team outside of France and it’s a big challenge but a new part of my career. When I was in a French team it was with good riders but when I heard that Elisa was joining UAE Team ADQ the news was crazy. It’s going to be incredible to race at this level,” she said.

Squiban recently enjoyed a get-away holiday in Mallorca, Spain but she will soon be back on the bike and meeting her teammates during several important training camps. During that phase, the rider will sit down with the coaches and sports directors to devise the perfect race programme that caters to Squiban’s strengths and serves the team’s ambitions of striving for success.

“I don’t know my race programme right now but races like the Giro d’Italia Women and Strade Bianche would be very exciting for me to do next season. I would love the chance to ride for myself at some moments but I’m also looking forward to riding for the other members of the team and sharing in our collective victories. We want to win as a team.” 

The move into the WorldTour also provides Squiban with the opportunity to work with world-class equipment partners, coaches and team staff. A natural time trialist, she hopes to tap into the expertise at UAE Team ADQ and take her qualities as a rider to the next level. 

“I’ve always liked time trials and when I was a junior I really worked on that. Now that I’m moving to the WorldTour I want to get back that focus and work with new equipment partners. I’m also looking forward to becoming a better climber too. I’m not the best at either of those disciplines but I know that I can improve.”

Melissa Moncada, the President and Head of the Team, highlighted Squiban's ever-improving stature within the peloton and thanked Arkéa - B&B Hotels Women for the amicable agreement reached in order for Squiban to move teams.

“Throughout the last season, Maëva Squiban has impressed us with her growth and talent. Her incredible performance, highlighted by a second-place finish in a stage at the Tour de France Femmes, speaks volumes about her dedication and skill. With a natural strength in climbing and expertise in time trials, we are excited to support her journey as she continues to develop. We’re also grateful for the harmonious agreement with her previous team, and we look forward to seeing Maëva bring her unique energy and talent to our team,” Moncada said.