UAE TEAM ADQ

Safiya Alsayegh’s adventure with UAE Team ADQ will continue and Olympic Games pioneer signed a contract until the end of 2026.

Safiya Alsayegh’s adventure with UAE Team ADQ will continue after the seven-time national champion and Olympic Games pioneer signed a contract until the end of 2026. 

Alsayegh made history this summer, becoming the first female Emirati cyclist to compete at the Olympic Games, where she represented the United Arab Emirates in the prestigious women’s road race. 

The 23-year-old has become a groundbreaking inspiration in her home nation and beyond and will fully commit to the life of a pro cyclist from 2025 onwards after completing her academic studies and becoming a qualified graphic designer earlier this year.

“I’m happy to race again with UAE Team ADQ for another two years. This is the first time in my career that I’ve been given a two-year contract and that makes me very excited because it means that UAE Team ADQ has confidence in me and that there’s trust between myself and the team for the future,” an excited Alsayegh said.

Alsayegh joined the team at the start of the 2022 season and quickly established herself as one of the most promising athletes in the team. Already a two-time national champion by that point, Alsayegh dovetailed racing with gaining an education as she set out to become a beacon of inspiration within the United Arab Emirates and beyond.

The rider reached a seminal moment in her blossoming career and life when she qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris, where she made history as the first rider from her nation to line up at the start of the women’s race. For any rider, representing their country at the Olympics would be seen as the pinnacle of their sporting career but for Alsayegh, the moment had even more importance as it demonstrated the continued sporting developments within the UAE and the wider pathways athletes are enjoying as they chase their dreams. 

“The Olympic Games in Paris were both magical and super,” Alsayegh said.

“The experience itself was amazing. I’ve done the World Championships three times and it’s always chaotic with the fan noise and cheering but I’ve never seen anything like what we had at the Olympics. There were rows of fans behind each other for the first 3km and all you could hear was the cheering from the roadside. The race itself was hard but it was great to represent the country and be there in the event as the first woman from the UAE. No one had ever qualified from my country before,” the rider added.

With the Olympics behind her, Alsayegh is focusing on the future with UAE Team ADQ. The plan going forward is to continue her development as a pro rider and build on her existing experience. That will likely mean more racing in Europe and a mix of WorldTour racing and outings with the UAE Development Team in 2025 as Alsayegh hones her skills and improves on her power. 

“I want to become more confident with racing experiences, whether that’s in Europe with the cold and rain or racing in other conditions. I’m sure I can get more confident because racing in Europe is a lot harder than in the Middle East, so hopefully pushing those limits will bring me to the next level,” she said.

“I need to get better at climbing. The peloton climbs at a crazy pace so that’s something that I need to focus on. I want to race more and be confident with my skills. In the UAE, before becoming a rider there were around 10 races a year and in the UCI calendar, as a professional, we do way more, so I’m looking forward to racing more. That’s one of my main aims now that I’m a full-time cyclist having graduated.”

Personal race aims for Alsayegh in 2025 include defending her road and time trial national titles and targeting the Asian Continental Championships next summer. 

“I’m happy to have won the national titles again this year, which means I can continue with those colours. Then I’ll try and keep them again for the year after. A big aim for next year is to try to win the Continental Championships in Asia. I see that goal becoming closer and closer because I’m getting to a better level each season,” she said.

The upcoming campaign will also see Alsayegh link up with a revamped and improved roster at UAE Team ADQ. Elisa Longo Borghini has joined the team and will spearhead the challenge in the Grand Tours and Spring Classics, while Brodie Chapman, Maeva Squiban, and Sofie van Rooijen are among the other WorldTour recruits. With several other riders signing contract extensions for 2025 and beyond, the future is bright for one of the most aspirational teams in cycling. 

“I’m really looking forward to sharing next season with all the riders in the WorldTour and the Development team. I know that I can learn a lot from such great riders. I’ve learned a lot from the riders already on the team but having such big names join the team will only broaden the experience that I can gain. We have some amazing riders coming on board, like Elisa, who has a great character and is a great leader. I’ve met her at the UAE Tour and she’s always been supportive of my career,” Alsayegh added.

And it’s not on the road and in races where Alsayegh wants to leave her mark. The rider also wants to continue her inspirational journey as one of the UAE’s top global sports stars. Cycling is an ever-increasing sport in the UAE, with more riders riding for health and recreational purposes than ever before. More women are taking up cycling, and whether that’s for fun or competition, Alsayegh believes that cycling sends a positive message to those at home and abroad. 

“I had YouTube open recently and was waiting for the ads to finish before I could watch the video. What was great was that both ads had cycling in them. That shows how much cycling has taken over the picture with several initiatives in the UAE. More local people like cycling and more Emirati people use cycling to get healthy and even race. I think that will only improve the base of pro riders that the UAE can produce in the future. UAE Team ADQ team and the development team are demonstrating that too, and showing that you can have a career within the sport. They are showing that those dreams can come true. On a domestic level, we’re seeing more and more women become familiar with how to ride a bike too,” she said.

“Seeing how the UAE is progressing only inspires me more and more. I want to give back to my country and inspire more people to join the journey that the leadership and the country are creating.”

Melissa Moncada, President and Head of UAE Team ADQ, said: “Safiya Alsayegh brings the strong spirit of cycling to the UAE and the international cycling community. Since the start of our team, she has broken down barriers and evolved into an inspiring character, showcasing her talents both on and off the bike. Safiya symbolises the achievements and opportunities available to female cyclists, highlighting the rewards of elite performance and the health advantages that cycling offers. This year Safiya made history at the Olympic Games, proudly representing the UAE with pride and great honour. We are thrilled to witness her journey with UAE Team ADQ and anticipate her continued success.”