UAE Team ADQ: Wheels of Change

This story began in 2011 when the team was known as Mcipollini-Giordana, an Italian squad backed by legendary sprinter Mario Cipollini’s bicycle brand. Over the years, it steadily evolved, merging with Slovenian team BTC City Ljubljana in 2019. But the real transformation came in 2022, when Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company stepped in, rebranding it all as UAE Team ADQ. It was a signature UAE move – the kind that doesn’t wait for the future but builds it from the ground up.

The results speak for themselves. UAE Team ADQ’s roster reads like a who’s who of cycling talent. There’s Brodie Chapman, the Australian climber who kicked off the 2025 season in spectacular fashion, storming to victory at the Australian National Individual Time Trial Championship and finishing a full minute ahead of third place. Then there’s Silvia Persico, the Italian star who stunned the peloton with her win at De Brabantse Pijl, and Chiara Consonni, a sprinter whose victory at the Tour of Chongming Island showcased her electrifying speed.

Riders from Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, and beyond form a multinational squad that blends talent, tactics, and tenacity. Together, they’ve amassed an impressive 55 victories since their rebranding – a testament to their dominance on the world stage. From conquering prestigious races like the Giro Donne and the Tour of Chongming Island to national championship wins across multiple countries, UAE Team ADQ is proving that women’s cycling is no afterthought in the UAE’s grand sporting vision.

At the heart of UAE Team ADQ lies a bigger purpose: building a pathway for Emirati women in cycling. By partnering with the UAE Cycling Federation, they’ve created the country’s first Women’s Continental Team, providing young riders with the infrastructure and inspiration to aim for the WorldTour. What was once unthinkable is now within reach.

That’s not to say the road is easy. Women’s cycling still faces significant challenges: fewer races, lower prize money, and less media coverage compared to men’s events. Yet UAE Team ADQ is tackling these barriers head-on, not just competing against the sport’s giants – like Trek-Segafredo and SD Worx – but proving they belong in the conversation.

The next time you think about cycling in the UAE, don’t just picture Tadej Pogačar on a mountaintop. Picture the women of UAE Team ADQ – sprinting, climbing, and breaking barriers with every pedal stroke. Because cycling isn’t about who starts the race; it’s about how they finish – arms raised, a grin wide, and a story worth telling.