It will be remembered as one of the season’s defining moments: 23-year-old Paula Blasi winning the Women’s Vuelta a España on El Angliru last Sunday. The Spanish rider from UAE had never competed in any of the three Grand Tours (Tour, Giro, Vuelta), but she arrived as one of the candidates to at least fight for the podium.
Winning the Vuelta, even though it could have been a goal, was a stunning breakthrough that moved many of those present at the summit in Asturias, including her mother, Eva Cairol. While Paula stood atop the podium, Eva couldn’t stop receiving messages and calls, but it was time to put the phone away and live a unique moment.
Paula Blasi celebrates with her mother Eva on El Angliru / Eloy Alonso
“Thank you, thank you so much,” she kept repeating to the congratulations. One of them came from Perico Delgado, who praised the Catalan’s achievement to AS: “She comes from a great season with her win in the Amstel and other notable results, and this is meeting expectations. Well, exceeding them.”
“Hello, I’m Javier Guillén, director of La Vuelta, and I congratulate you on this great success,” said the top executive of the men’s Spanish tour when introducing himself. In the women’s race, his counterpart is Fernando Escartín, who also designs the routes for the men’s event.
Mavi García (42) is Paula Blasi’s teammate at UAE. The two built a strong friendship during the last World Championships in Rwanda (bronze in Under-23 for the Catalan, elite bronze for the Balearic rider) and now share the same jersey this year. “In the team, we’re all amazed. We expected she could win a Vuelta in the future, later on, but this is impressive,” says Mavi, who despite suffering a crash during the week tried to help the Spanish gem as much as she could.
Cheering on our champion Paula Blasi, who was SEN-SA-TIONAL TODAY at @LaVueltaFem by @CarrefourES #somosequipo Thanks to Roberto @ciclismoasturia for the great photo. pic.twitter.com/iYa2PII8xf — Pedro Delgado (@pedrodelgadoweb) May 8, 2026
“On El Angliru, when she couldn’t go on, I tried to encourage Paula over the radio as much as I could,” García added to this outlet. She will compete in the Giro and Tour soon, while Blasi, who will return in Durango (on the 19th), appears as a reserve for the Tour. Time will tell.
Dori Ruano, a pioneer and ambassador of the Women’s Vuelta, also praised the feat: “This is history. Achieving it so soon… it’s a dream for everyone and the best thing that could happen to Spanish women’s cycling. No one knows what her ceiling is. In 2024, with Massi in the Volta a Osona (Paula’s victory), you could see something special, but this is something else entirely.”
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