Winspace Orange Seal have confirmed the signing of Alice Coutinho for the 2026 season, completing a full-circle move that brings the French rider back to the Charente-based structure she last represented in 2020. After five years developing her craft in Spain with Sopela, Eneicat and most recently Massi Baix Ter, Coutinho returns as a far more mature and competitive rider, ready to reinforce the team’s climbing depth for the year ahead.
The 25-year-old from Saint-Gaudens has enjoyed her strongest season to date in 2025, highlighted by a superb third place at the GP Ciudad de Eibar at 1.Pro level, one of the most demanding climbing races on the European calendar. Her consistency has continued throughout the year with a seventh place at the French National Championships and eighth overall at the Giro Toscana Int. Femminile, further signalling her growing reliability in stage races.
Coutinho said she was eager to begin this new chapter: “I’m joining Winspace Orange Seal for the 2026 season with great motivation. After five years in Spain, I’m happy to return to a French team with a solid project. I’m looking forward to sharing great races and contributing to the team’s success.”
Team manager Jean-Christophe Barbotin emphasised the sense of continuity and belief underpinning the reunion. “Alice already knows the team. We didn’t continue together at the end of 2020 because she couldn’t fully commit to cycling back then. She has since completed her studies with great success, and in recent months she’s had more time to dedicate to the bike — and it clearly shows in her results. She proved it at the end of the season. With Alice, this isn’t a gamble; it’s the signing of a rider we know well — a strong climber who will continue to progress significantly in the coming years.”
Her return marks both a homecoming and a step forward. Coutinho’s progression since her first spell with the team reflects the broader trajectory of her career: methodical development, steady improvement and a growing ability to compete in tougher, longer and more selective races. With Winspace Orange Seal continuing to strengthen their roster for 2026, the addition of a rider in clear ascent offers another important piece for their ambitions across hilly classics and stage races next season.
