WCC Adds Five African Riders, Scandolara Becomes Coach
the 2026 roster for the UCI World Cycling Center (WCC) team was confirmed this week, with five new African riders and one Chilean rider joining a womenS Continental outfit aimed at creating opportunities for riders from underrepresented nations.
The UCI has also appointed a new coach for the team, with Italy’s Valentina Scandolara set to head up the project in 2026. Scandolara rode for teams including Orica-AIS and Team TIBCO-SVB during her time as a pro.
The WCC team, which the UCI has run since 2018, has been the home of riders like Teniel Campbell, Marlen Reusser, Juliana Londoño and even reigning World Champion Magdeleine Vallieres, as the governing body aims to provide a pathway for riders from all over the world.
This year, the team is welcoming six new riders and retaining four existing names to create a 10-strong team. Of the six new arrivals, five come from nations across Africa, as the UCI looks to build the legacy from the first African Road World Championships in Rwanda last year.
Rwanda’s Jazilla Mwamikazi is one of the new riders.