The Emirates Holding team enters the 2026 UAE Women's Tour with high hopes of defending its title. The race is the only event for women in the Middle East on the International Cycling Union's calendar. The tour will take place in Abu Dhabi from February 5 to 8, with 20 of the world's top teams participating. Melissa Moncada, head of the Emirates Holding women's team, stated that the UAE plays a leading role in developing women's cycling through initiatives and programs aimed at enhancing women's participation. She mentioned that the team's establishment several years ago reflected a national vision that transcends results, focusing on building a sustainable project for women's cycling. The team features a roster of top international cyclists, including Elisa Longo Borghini, Silvia Persico, Karol-Ann Canuel, Lara Gillespie, Eleonore Bakstred, and Megan Jastrab. The team enters the new edition aiming for victories and to embed a culture of women's cycling in the local community. Moncada explained that winning on home soil gives the team and fans multiplied value, adding that financial stability and long-term partnerships—with ADQ and IHC among them—are crucial to the project's sustainability. She concluded: 'Certainly, number one means sporting excellence and making an impact together, and boosting the female presence in one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.'
