Human Powered Health has announced the signing of rising Ukrainian talent Yulia Biriukova, marking her debut in the WorldTour. Biriukova, with her notable climbing skills, is expected to play a key role in the team’s general classification (GC) strategy and climbing segments.
Expressing her enthusiasm about joining Human Powered Health, Biriukova highlighted her ambitions for growth as a rider in 2024. She specifically mentioned her desire to excel in mountain stages and time trials, aiming to develop her skills as a GC contender.
Biriukova’s prowess in uphill racing is evident from her past achievements. Her palmarès includes a victory in a stage of the 2022 Thüringen Ladies Tour and podium finishes at the Gran Premio Ciudad de Eibar, the Pyrénées Tour, and the Grand Prix Mediterranean. Notably, she secured a seventh-place finish at the challenging Mont Ventoux Challenge and also competed in the first edition of the rebooted Tour de France Femmes.
Kenny Latomme, the Performance Manager at Human Powered Health, spoke highly of Biriukova, particularly her performance on Mont Ventoux in 2022. He acknowledged that the team has been monitoring her progress for some time and anticipates significant development in her climbing abilities. Latomme also expressed excitement about growing together with Biriukova in her first Women’s WorldTour team experience.
The 25-year-old Ukrainian started her cycling journey at the age of 12 in Lviv, Ukraine’s largest city in the western region. Biriukova recounted how she was introduced to the sport when a coach visited her school. Despite the lack of popularity of cycling in Ukraine at the time, her curiosity led her to embrace the sport.
Biriukova regularly represents Ukraine in international competitions, including the World and European Championship road races. With Ukraine currently experiencing the ravages of war, she emphasized the importance of representing her country in the sporting arena, especially considering the missile strikes that hit her town in October 2022. Biriukova expressed the sentiment that showcasing the Ukrainian flag on the global stage is more crucial than ever, hoping to inspire a new generation of young athletes in her homeland.
As she steps into the WorldTour with Human Powered Health, Biriukova carries not only her aspirations as a cyclist but also the hopes and pride of her war-torn country, aiming to make a mark on the international cycling stage.
