Paula Blasi relegated to support role in women's Tour de Suisse

The women's Tour de Suisse begins Saturday in Lausanne, Switzerland. Spanish rider Paula Blasi, a recent Vuelta winner, is listed among the favorites.

Her team, the UAE women's squad, has assigned her a secondary role and will not allow her to contest the general classification. The team will be led by Polish rider Dominika Włodarczyk, with Italian Elisa Longo Borghini also in a leadership position.

Blasi has been instructed not to push fully in the upcoming 21‑km time trial in Dijon and to avoid testing the Ventoux climb, which will be the first women's ascent of the mountain in competition. Other top contenders include Dutch rider Demi Vollering and French rider Pauline Ferrand‑Prévot. The squad also includes 19‑year‑old junior world champion Paula Ostiz.