Canadian climber Nadia Gontova will move to Liv AlUla Jayco in 2026, signing a two-year deal after a breakthrough campaign with Winspace Orange Seal. The 25-year-old has quickly risen through the professional ranks since discovering cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic, and will now join a WorldTour squad for the first time.
Gontova’s progression has been rapid. In 2024 she claimed the overall win at the Redlands Classic in the US and finished runner-up at the Tour of the Gila, before carrying her form into Europe this season.
Highlights in 2025 included second overall at the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées, third at the Alpes Grésivaudan Classic, 15th at the Tour of the Basque Country, and 23rd overall at the Tour de France Femmes, where she also cracked the top 10 on the final stage. She added podium finishes at the Canadian Championships, with third in the time trial and sixth in the road race.
Reflecting on the move, Gontova said: “I am beyond excited for the opportunity to join Liv AlUla Jayco. I’m looking forward to racing a WorldTour calendar, surrounded by such a strong team that will help me progress as a rider. Over the past few seasons, I’ve taken a lot of big steps, starting with working my way up the ranks in North American racing and then coming over to Europe in 2025. This year was full of firsts for me, getting to do some of the biggest races, learning so much, and achieving results that I am proud of along the way. My goal is to keep building consistency, take opportunities when they come, and help the team achieve strong results.”
Team manager Gene Bates welcomed her arrival, pointing to her performances in Europe as evidence of her potential. “Nadia came up on our radar after some great results earlier in the season. Since then, she has shown great ability and continues to grow as a rider in some of the biggest races, such as the Tour de France Femmes. We are excited about further developing Nadia within the Liv AlUla Jayco set-up, and feel certain she will add great value to the team moving forward.”
With her background in North American stage racing and a growing list of results in Europe, Gontova now has the chance to test herself across a full WorldTour calendar. Liv AlUla Jayco see her as a rider who can strengthen their options in the mountains and continue to develop into a consistent stage race contender over the next two seasons.
Main photo credit: Sprint Cycling Agency
