It was known for some time that Silvia Persico was transferring to a Women’s WorldTour team from 2023. After a breakout season that has seen the Italian take 2 World Championship bronzes in cyclocross and road, a maiden UCI win followed by a maiden Women’s WorldTour win. With the upheavals promised at Valcar-Travel & Service which sees their DS moving to UAE Team ADQ from next season and the strong rumours of Chiara Consonni and Eleonora Gasparrini also joining too. Valcar will be reducing its ambitions and becoming a U23 development team after a failed attempt to find the funding to join the WWT.
With the strong Valcar links from next year, Persico had been heavily linked with UAE Team ADQ before the official announcement. For the Italian, it’s a chance to succeed on the highest stage of women’s cycling. With Mavi Garcia leaving the team, the space is clear for a new GC leader in Silvia Persico. Results of 5th in the Tour de France Femmes and 7th in the Giro Donne mean that the team have a direct replacement for Garcia and can feel comfortable knowing they have a young rider for a potentially long time.
“I am looking forward to the coming years, which are very important for my career. I’m leaving Valcar, where I grew up, because I hope to take an extra step with my new team. I have learned a lot this season and I think I have shown that I can lead a team.
The decision to sign with UAE Team ADQ for three years is also based on shared values. For a project that goes further than just cycling. With the team we can be a source of inspiration for so many women, especially in the Arab world.”
Silvia Persico
The 2022 season has been particularly impressive for Persico because it came off the cyclocross season. There has barely been a break during 2022 for the Italian who has finished consistently in the top 10s of major races all year.
UAE Team ADQ also confirmed a number of riders who will be staying on the team going into 2023. Sofia Bertizzolo, Erica Magnaldi, Laura Tomasi, Anna Trevisi, Eugenia Bujak, Alena Ivanchenko, Linda Zanetti and Safiya Alsayegh.
