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Pellegrini, Venturelli and Kunz confirmed with UAE Development Team
October 5, 2024
The foundation of the UAE Development Team for the 2025 season will be built upon the confirmation of Federica Venturelli, Francesca Pellegrini, and Hannah Kunz.
UAE Team ADQ was among the first teams in the world to invest in young talent, creating the UAE Development Team project two years ago. After the first two seasons of experience, which also brought brilliant results, the project is now ready to take another leap in quality.
The team's goal – by 2025 consisting of 8 young international athletes – is to become an increasingly professional platform for nurturing young cycling talents worldwide. The team will work in close synergy and within a unified structure alongside the UAE Team ADQ WorldTour team, as highlighted yesterday by the team president, Melissa Moncada.
The foundation of the UAE Development Team for the 2025 season will be built upon the confirmation of three talented riders who have been retained from the current season: the Italians Federica Venturelli, Francesca Pellegrini, and the German Hannah Kunz.
Federica Venturelli, 19, in her first year in elite cycling, has immediately showcased her potential. Despite a challenging start to the year due to physical issues, she returned to top form, winning two stages, the Points Classification, and the Young Riders Classification at the Giro del Mediterraneo. She also finished second at the Cyclis Classic in Belgium and gained valuable experience with the WorldTour team. She continued racing on the track, adding another prestigious medal to her already impressive personal achievements – a gold in the Under-23 European Championships in the Individual Pursuit.
“I am very happy to stay with this team because I believe it’s an excellent environment to grow both as an athlete and as a person, and to become a better competitor,” said Federica Venturelli.
“During this season, my race schedule was reduced due to some injuries, but I’m very satisfied with the races I was able to participate in, not only for the results but also for the experience gained. This being my first year among the élite after moving up from the junior category, I now better understand the importance of racing as part of a real team. My goal for next year is to continue learning and improving, thanks to the guidance and advice of the WorldTour team riders, with whom I had several chances to race this year,” Venturelli concluded.
Francesca Pellegrini, 20, a versatile athlete, achieved her best results this year at the Tour de Pologne Women, placing in the top 10 in three different stages and finishing fourth overall. She had a very positive summer in terms of performance, often serving as an important support rider in various races with the WorldTour team.
“I’ve been part of this project since its inception in 2023, and it has allowed me to grow and improve as an athlete, while also gaining plenty of experience with the WorldTour team. I am happy to stay with this team and begin a new season with them,” said Francesca Pellegrini.
“I believe the last season was positive for me. We built a great group, achieved many results, and personally, I feel I’ve grown and made significant progress, both physically and in terms of race approach. I know I still need to improve, but that’s the goal of the Development Team, to give us time to learn and grow. Next year, I hope to gain even more experience, drawing inspiration from the WorldTour riders, and in 2025, I’d like to gain more confidence in myself to achieve some personal results,” Pellegrini concluded.
Hanna Kunz, 19, in her first year in the top category, immediately showcased her talent. She won the German national road title among U23 Women, took bronze in the ITT National Championship, and finished second at the Großer Siberpilspreis in Germany. It was an important year of gaining experience, as she also participated in several races with the WorldTour team.
“I must say I’m really happy and proud to race another season with the UAE Development Team. My first year with the team was really extraordinary for me, and the team gave me all the support I needed to make the big step from the junior to the elite category. I felt welcomed right from the first training session, which made the transition much easier,” commented Hanna Kunz.
“Personally, the season went exactly as I hoped. I was able to gain a lot of new experiences and learn a lot from my teammates and the entire staff. We all grew together and became stronger race after race. It was also very special for me to have the opportunity to race with the WorldTour team and learn from such experienced riders. I am grateful for the opportunity I was given. Now, for next season, I hope to continue learning and to support the team in the best way possible. I also hope to make further progress in my growth as a cyclist to achieve my future goals,” Kunz concluded.
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