From earning almost the minimum to becoming one of the highest-paid cyclists in the world: Paula Blasi ignites the transfer market

Paula Blasi has only been in the WorldTour for a full year, but her name is already causing a real battle in the market. The Catalan, one of the great revelations of the season after winning the Women's Tour and signing a brilliant spring in the Ardennes, is being closely followed by several of the most powerful teams in the peloton, and everything points to her next contract placing her among the highest-paid cyclists in the world.

Paula Blasi could go from earning the WorldTour minimum to a superstar salary

According to various reports published in Italy and the United States, Blasi's entourage is already listening to proposals from several teams interested in making her a leader for the grand tours. Among the names that are most frequently mentioned are Movistar Team, Lidl-Trek, FDJ-SUEZ, and Uno-X Mobility.

The big problem for UAE Team ADQ is that the Spaniard has a relatively low buyout clause for the level she has shown this year. Her current contract extends until 2027, but various sources indicate that any team could release her by paying around 100,000 euros. A figure that just a few years ago was equivalent to the annual salary of many of the best riders in the peloton and now seems manageable for several teams with large budgets.

Blasi's explosion has been as rapid as it is unexpected. Just a few months ago, she surprised everyone by winning the Amstel Gold Race and later confirmed her level with a podium finish at the La Flèche Wallonne Féminine and a Top 5 at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes. But it was her victory in the Women's Vuelta that really sparked interest from half of the WorldTour teams.

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The sporting growth has also been accompanied by a gigantic economic leap. Several sources close to the negotiation claim that Blasi signed with UAE practically for the minimum salary of the women's WorldTour, around 40,000 euros annually, after moving up from the development team in 2025. Now, just a year later, the figures being discussed for her next contract would be between 800,000 and 850,000 euros per season.

If confirmed, the Catalan would move directly into the group of the highest-paid female cyclists, a scenario that seemed unthinkable just a short time ago. The women's market is experiencing a moment of total inflation after the major movements of recent years, and teams with more resources are betting heavily on securing leaders capable of winning grand tours.

Movistar appears as one of the destinations that would make the most sense from a sporting perspective. The Spanish team is still looking for a clear reference for the general classifications beyond Marlen Reusser, and Blasi's profile would fit perfectly in terms of both age and projection. However, Lidl-Trek could have an economic advantage thanks to one of the highest budgets in the peloton and their need to strengthen their squad for the grand tours.

Meanwhile, UAE is trying to react. According to reports published in Italy, the team has already put a much more ambitious extension on the table until 2029 in an attempt to retain the rider. But after the season Blasi is having, all indications are that the coming weeks could become one of the major stories in the women's cycling market leading up to 2027.