Rwandan cyclist Jazilla Mwamikazi has been selected among the 10 riders who will make up the women’s team of the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) for the 2026 cycling season.
The team, based in Aigle, is part of a development program run by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) aimed at nurturing young cycling talents from different countries around the world. The WCC Team was established in 2016 and obtained the status of a UCI Women’s Continental Team in 2020.
The initiative is designed to provide talented female riders with opportunities to showcase their abilities on the international stage through professional training and racing opportunities across Europe.
The 2026 squad brings together cyclists from several countries including Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Chile, Colombia, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Rwanda, Ukraine and Switzerland.
The riders recently held a training camp in Calpe before returning to Aigle, where they continue preparations for various races scheduled throughout the season.
The team is coached by former Italian professional cyclist Valentina Scandolara, who previously won several European titles and performed strongly in World Championship competitions.
Scandolara said she is excited to work with a team made up of athletes from diverse backgrounds, noting that the riders show strong motivation to learn and improve qualities she considers essential for reaching the highest level of the sport.
Beyond improving their physical strength, the coach will also help the riders develop key racing skills such as race reading, tactical decision-making, teamwork and positioning within the peloton.
Mwamikazi, who is 21 years old, joins nine other cyclists in the 2026 squad: Yuldoz Hashimi, Nesrine Houili, Anna Kolyzhuk, Gabriela López Irreño, Lucie de Marigny-Lagesse, Florencia Monsálvez, Janice Stettler, Georgette Vignontodo and Serkalem Taye Watango.