Pauliena Rooijakkers will be an athlete of UAE Team ADQ from the 2026 season: the 32-year-old Dutch rider has signed a two-year contract with the Emirates team.

Originally from Schijndel, Netherlands, she began to love cycling for her passion to push beyond limits, especially uphill. "That feeling of fatigue and freedom on the bike truly ignited my passion since childhood," the Dutch rider, who is one of the most appreciated climbers internationally, confessed. In her palmares are two victories, but what stands out is the third place in the General Classification at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, and Pauliena Rooijakkers is particularly proud of her top 10 finishes in all Grand Tours.

Coming from Fenix-Deceuninck, regarding her choice to continue her career with UAE Team ADQ, she said: "UAE Team ADQ has demonstrated a very professional structure and clear ambitions, with strong leaders like Elisa Longo Borghini and a constant focus on winning. The team's vision, the way they work, and their attention to detail convinced me that this was the right place to continue my career." A significant step for Pauliena Rooijakkers: "It means I can leverage my experience to support our leaders in the most important races. For me, being part of a project with such great ambitions is truly motivating. I am motivated to race with the team for victory in Grand Tours".

Looking to the near future, the 32-year-old Dutch national, fresh from participating in recent World Championships and European Road Championships, said: "I am primarily a climber and a stage race cyclist. I see myself as a support rider who works hard for the team, but also as someone who can demonstrate their strengths, especially in the mountains. My main goal for the new season is to be alongside my teammates in the most important races like the Giro and the Tour. I want to make a real difference in the mountains and help the team win. Of course, I also aim to be consistent and achieve excellent personal performances, but the team's success always comes first".

Melissa Moncada, President of UAE Team ADQ, said: "We greatly appreciate Pauliena Rooijakkers' qualities, a serious, strong, experienced athlete with a great team spirit. We are confident that her addition will bring even more balance, stability, and experience to our team, which will be important for the younger members of the group".