‘They made it difficult for me to leave’ - Paula Blasi hits out at UAE after bitter exit

Paula Blasi can finally look ahead to 2027. After months of uncertainty, her move to Movistar was confirmed earlier this week, bringing an end to a transfer saga that proved far more complicated than the Spaniard had anticipated.

The reigning Vuelta Femenina champion had been under contract with UAE until the end of 2027, but her remarkable rise during the past season convinced her that she needed a different environment.

Speaking to Laura Álvarez in an interview published by Eurosport, Blasi admitted that securing her departure had taken a considerable toll.

"They haven't made it easy for me to leave," she said, explaining that the negotiations continued to cause difficulties despite the existence of a release clause in her contract.

Blasi claimed that UAE continued demanding money even after her release clause had been paid.

"I was paid the minimum, which is what I've been paid all year," she said, explaining that she could not afford to pay any more.

For Blasi, the way the situation unfolded was particularly disappointing.

"There is more disappointment than resentment," she said.

The Spaniard acknowledged the commercial realities of professional cycling but felt that the human aspect had been overlooked during the negotiations.

"Cycling is a job, it's a business," she explained, arguing that keeping riders happy and considering their emotional wellbeing should remain an important part of managing a team.

Despite her criticism of the management, Blasi stressed that she had no problems with her former teammates, many of whom understood her decision to leave.

With the transfer now completed and approved by the UCI, she admitted that a considerable weight had finally been lifted.

"Now I can finally breathe," Blasi said. "Everything is official, everything is signed, everything is accepted by the UCI."

Blasi's dissatisfaction went beyond the negotiations surrounding her departure.

Her extraordinary rise in 2026, which included victories at the Amstel Gold Race and La Vuelta Femenina, created an unexpected situation within a UAE squad already packed with established contenders.

Having joined the organisation as a relatively inexperienced rider, Blasi felt the team struggled to adjust to how quickly she had developed.

She acknowledged the support she had received during her early career but suggested that earning greater responsibility was more difficult than she had expected.

"There was a lot of potential at UAE, and I genuinely think the girls are very strong," she said.

"But I think the problem was higher up, perhaps with some of the directors or the team management."

According to Blasi, the lack of clear decisions left several riders competing for leadership without sufficient direction.

"When three, four or five riders can win and nobody sets the direction, it becomes more of a fight than a team race."

The issue became particularly evident ahead of the Tour de France Femmes.

Despite winning La Vuelta Femenina, Blasi was not initially included in UAE's plans for the Tour. She eventually secured a place in the squad, although the leadership situation remained complicated.

Blasi recognised that race programmes and leadership responsibilities had already been agreed upon before her breakthrough results, making changes difficult for the team.

However, she questioned whether leadership should be determined so far in advance, rather than by performances on the road.

For the Spaniard, the Tour was also her first experience of the sport's biggest stage race. While expectations had grown dramatically following her string of victories, she knew winning on her debut was far from guaranteed.

She eventually finished fifth overall, while teammate Elisa Longo Borghini secured a podium finish.

Despite the tensions, Blasi praised Longo Borghini for helping keep the team together during the Tour. "She was the one who brought a little more peace," she said.

The pair developed a strong understanding on the road, particularly in the mountains, while Blasi admitted that media speculation had sometimes made the atmosphere uncomfortable. She felt some headlines had misrepresented her words, creating tensions within the team.

Blasi believes the riders ultimately managed to resolve those difficulties themselves, with Longo Borghini's experience proving particularly valuable in a situation where she felt clearer direction from management had been lacking.

Blasi hopes to find greater clarity at Movistar, where she will share leadership responsibilities with Marlen Reusser.

The Spaniard has already spoken to the Swiss rider about their respective ambitions and believes the pair can work together without repeating the problems she experienced at UAE.

Although their race programmes will not be finalised until December, Blasi expects to target La Vuelta Femenina while Reusser focuses on the Giro d'Italia.

The Tour de France Femmes could see both riders line up with leadership ambitions, depending on their form.

"If we're both in good shape, my goal would be for both of us to go," Blasi explained. "I think that's where we can do the most damage."

"If one arrives stronger than the other, I wouldn't have any problem riding for her, and she's already told me she wouldn't have any problem riding for me."

For Blasi, that willingness to establish a clear understanding before the season begins is precisely what she felt was missing at her previous team.

After a year that brought some of the biggest victories of her career alongside considerable tension behind the scenes, the 23-year-old is looking forward to a fresh start.

"I think the most important thing for an athlete is to have the peace of mind I have right now," she said. "With that, it's easy for me to focus on training."