UAE Team Emirates is entering the world of women’s cycling with the takeover of existing pro women’s team, ALÉ BTC Ljubljana.
Alessia Piccolo, CEO of A.P.G. Srl (to which apparel brand ALÉ belongs) and President of the women’s World Tour team ALÉ BTC Ljubljana said, “I’ve always believed in the women’s cycling movement, so much so that I’ve come to have one of the strongest squads in the world.
“About UAE Team Emirates I want to specify that on one hand I’m happy, because we will pass to a team of reference in the world of cycling. On the other hand, I’m sorry: for years I’ve been working to make the movement grow; and in this path I’ve tried, with all my strength and all the possibilities, to involve companies and sponsors, in various capacities and of various sizes, without getting the answers I had hoped for.
“But in life, the most important thing is to believe in projects and, above all, to make sure that you carry them out in the best possible way, with the awareness of the assets you have.
Piccolo continued, “Mauro Gianetti, Team Principal of UAE Team Emirates has been clear. Next year Tadej Pogačar’s formation will also have a women’s team, like many World Tour teams by now.
“With this agreement, we can guarantee continuity to a project that is so close to our hearts. What is certain is that ALÉ will not leave the women’s cycling world. It is our home and our territory. We will continue to support amateur cycling as we have always done. I have many projects and many ideas and a lot of passion to pour into these initiatives.”
UAE Team Emirates Team Principal Mauro Gianetti said “We are pleased to announce that we are working to create a female team to compete on the world stage as part of the UAE ambition to develop cycling, in support of a global project that started back in 2017.
“Together with the ALÉ BTC Ljubljana Team we have found the right opportunity and the availability we were looking for; and, in collaboration with the UCI, we are preparing all the necessary documents for the completion of the acquisition of the World Tour license starting from 1 January 2022.”
www.uaeteamemirates.com
www.alecipolliniteam.com
www.alecycling.com
