Ten female riders to watch in 2026
Most female cyclists will start the 2026 season in the coming weeks in Australia, Spain, or—even slightly later—in Belgium. For WielerFlits, it is therefore high time to list ten riders who could surprise or confirm themselves in 2026.
Paula Blasi
UAE Team ADQ has become a serious contender in women’s cycling. The team from the United Arab Emirates collected 28 wins in 2025, and given their roster, that number could well increase this year. Naturally, you should watch out for Pauliena Rooijakkers, Elisa Longo Borghini, and Maeva Squiban in 2026, but keep an eye on Paula Blasi as well. The 22-year-old Spanish talent already won four races in 2025, including the climbing time trial at the Tour de Romandie. This year Blasi will showcase herself even more in bigger races. A strong general classification result in a grand tour and possibly even a stage win are well within reach.
Shari Bossuyt
Shari Bossuyt has made a strong comeback after her suspension. The 25-year-old Belgian rider was quickly selected for the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, where she immediately achieved several top placings. At the Citadel of Namur, just three months after returning to racing, she secured her first professional win. In 2026, Bossuyt will definitely make her mark in the Flemish spring classics—and might even win a semi-classic.
Viktoria Chladonova
Visma | Lease a Bike holds gold in its young talents. With Imogen Wolff, Marion Bunel, and Viktoria Chladonova, the Dutch team already has a promising future. The 19-year-old Chladonova is especially one to watch in 2026. At the World Championships in Rwanda, she finished second in both the time trial and the road race. The question remains whether the team will dare to send her to the Tour de France Femmes alongside Wolff, Bunel, and Ferrand-Prévot this year or let her mature for another season in the shadows. If the latter, you can definitely count on her for the Giro d’Italia. She should also be able to make an impression in the Ardennes classics.
Sarah Van Dam
Sarah Van Dam also features on this list representing Visma | Lease a Bike. The Canadian rider—with Dutch grandparents—secured a contract with the Dutch team after a strong year, including seven top-5 finishes in WorldTour races. It’s expected she will take a big step forward in her development. Van Dam has yet to secure a pro win, but 2026 could be the year she grabs her first in events like the Tour Down Under, Tour of Britain, or the Tour of the Basque Country. Don’t be surprised if she finishes in the top five or ten at the end of the season in races such as the Amstel Gold Race or the Bretagne Classic.
Lauren Dickson
After two riders from Visma | Lease a Bike, here are two riders from FDJ United-Suez. The transfer of Lauren Dickson to Demi Vollering’s team is one to watch. The 25-year-old British rider has only raced one WorldTour event so far (Tour of Britain in 2025), but she is making great strides and you’ll be able to see her near the front in major races this year. Dickson handles hills very well, so you can guess in which races we expect to see her leading the charge.
Célia Gery
She won three stages in the Tour de l'Avenir, became U23 world champion, and has already shown her strength in cyclocross this year: Célia Gery. The 20-year-old Frenchwoman is set to break through in the Women's WorldTour this year. Gery is not only very fast but also climbs well, making for a dangerous combination. She will seriously compete in the Flemish races this spring—and might even win some. For Vollering, Gery will be a serious contender in the coming months.
Julia Kopecky
Julia Kopecky had a challenging debut year at SD Worx-Protime due to knee problems but improved later in the season. At the World Championships in Rwanda, the Czech rider kept up strongly on a tough course, and at the gravel worlds, she played a key role in Lorena Wiebes’ victory. Having had a good winter training period, Kopecky is expected to take another big step forward. The 21-year-old from Leiden will already show her form at the Tour Down Under and will undoubtedly play an important role in SD Worx-Protime’s spring campaign.
Anne Knijnenburg
Anne Knijnenburg is the Dutch rider in this list. There are many talents in the Netherlands, and we could have named others, but Knijnenburg succeeded in winning a WorldTour race in 2025 despite a difficult year during which she even took a hiatus. If the 23-year-old can stay injury-free, she will take another big step in 2026. Her aggressive racing style guarantees she’ll be regularly featured on television, possibly even in a transition stage in the Tour de France Femmes.
Isabella Holmgren
Isabella Holmgren cannot be left off this list. The Canadian rider dominated the Tour de l'Avenir, building nearly a two-minute lead over Marion Bunel across seven stages. The 20-year-old also placed seventh in the Giro d’Italia. This year, Holmgren from Lidl-Trek could well be fighting for a podium spot in that race. She will also take on a significant role in smaller stage races.
Paula Ostiz
Every year, there’s always a rider who bursts onto the scene from the junior peloton to the WorldTour with great fanfare. Last year it was Cat Ferguson; this year it’s Paula Ostiz. The 19-year-old Spanish rider is both European and World Road Champion at the junior level and will be proving herself among the big names in women’s cycling this year. There’s a strong chance that Ostiz will stamp her mark on the women’s peloton from the very start.
Mie Ottestad
The final rider on this list is Mie Ottestad, who finished 2025 strongly by placing second at the European Time Trial Championships in Ardèche. The 28-year-old Uno-X rider emerged in 2025 as her team's leader, with victories in the Tour of Norway and a stage win in the Vuelta a Burgos. This year, Ottestad needs to make the step to performing in grand tours, something she should be capable of given her climbing and time-trialing skills.
