The Paula Blasi transfer to Movistar has put a striking number on women’s cycling’s rapid financial growth. The Spanish team are reportedly preparing to pay the Vuelta Femenina champion more than €600,000 per season from 2027.
That figure, reported by Spanish newspaper MARCA, offers a sharp contrast with Movistar’s earlier women’s programme. When Mavi García joined the team in 2018, her annual salary was €25,000.
Andreu Canals, García’s former coach and former president of the Balearic Cycling Federation, recently revealed that amount. Canals was involved in negotiating García’s agreement with the Spanish squad.
The comparison is not exact. García and Blasi reached Movistar at different points in their careers. Yet the gap still illustrates the pace of change at the top of the women’s peloton.
Paula Blasi transfer underlines Movistar ambition
Blasi has signed a three-year deal with Movistar, running from 2027 through the end of 2029. Her move ends her time with UAE Team ADQ earlier than planned.
MARCA has also reported that Movistar will pay €85,000 to release Blasi from her current contract. Together, the salary and release fee make this the team’s largest investment in its women’s programme.
The deal follows a standout 2026 season that elevated Blasi into the sport’s front rank. She won the Amstel Gold Race, then delivered an even bigger statement at La Vuelta Femenina.
On the Angliru, Blasi overturned an 18-second deficit to Anna van der Breggen. That ride secured the overall title and confirmed her Grand Tour credentials.
She later added more stage race success and finished fifth at the Tour de France Femmes. Those results made her one of the most sought-after riders on the transfer market.
Several major teams showed interest, but Blasi chose Movistar despite saying she had a larger offer elsewhere. During the World Championships, she told MARCA she rejected a much bigger contract to race where she wanted.
Her decision also reflected sporting priorities. The chance to race for a Spanish team mattered, as did Movistar’s roster. Blasi will develop alongside riders including Marlen Reusser and Liane Lippert.
After the announcement, Blasi said she needed a different step in her career. She wanted a team that believed in her, supported her aims, and matched her ambition.
Women’s WorldTour salaries continue to rise
The reported Blasi salary stands far above wider Women’s WorldTour benchmarks. UCI data reported by Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad placed the 2024 average annual salary at €85,000. The median salary was €65,000.
More recent estimates published by Cyclingnews suggest many established Women’s WorldTour riders earn €80,000 to €100,000 per season. No newer official average has been made public.
Minimum salaries have also climbed sharply since their introduction. In 2020, employed riders on Women’s WorldTour teams were guaranteed €15,000 per year.
That minimum rose to €35,000 in 2024 and €38,000 in 2025. It remains at €38,000 for 2026.
Against those figures, Blasi’s reported contract is exceptional. A salary above €600,000 would exceed the 2024 Women’s WorldTour average by more than seven times. It would also be almost 16 times the current minimum salary.
The broader increase in minimum pay shows progress beyond the sport’s biggest stars. Still, the Paula Blasi transfer highlights a new competitive edge among leading teams.
Movistar’s commitment shows how highly they rate a rider capable of winning the sport’s biggest races. It also shows how quickly the women’s market has changed since García’s 2018 agreement.
Related Cycle Nation stories
- Lisa Bone WorldTour move secured with EF Education-Oatly for 2027
- Paula Blasi Movistar deal gives Spanish squad a new grand tour leader
- Mikel Landa victory caps Vuelta stage 20 as Enric Mas closes on red
- S’annara Grove suspension forces Tour of Britain Women exit
- Zoe and Elynor Bäckstedt lead home hopes at Tour of Britain Women