As the first Emirati athlete on the Women's World Tour and the sole representative of UAE Team ADQ, Safiya Al Sayegh is feeling both pressure and privilege heading into 2022.

Al Sayegh, 20, is the UAE's national road race and time trial champion and was approached by the team last November after UAE Team Emirates took over Ale BTC Ljubljana's World Team license.

This was Al Sayegh's first professional contract and a big adjustment from racing for the Dubai Police Cycling Team, but his first experience with UAE Team ADQ was positive.

"When I was going to Spain (for training camp) and before I left, I was pretty overwhelmed thinking about what was going to happen and what would happen," she wondered.

"I wondered if I would fit in with the team, if I would do well. I really enjoyed it and it was a really good start." [She is the first female rider from the UAE to join the World Team, after Youssef Mirza of UAE Team Emirates, and the second rider, male or female, to join the World Team.

"It's a great honor and, in fact, a huge responsibility on my shoulders. 'A lot of people, especially from my country, have helped me. And the support and hope that I have from this country and from the Arab world is what makes me want to work harder and reach for greater heights. It really pushes me to want more, to achieve more, to progress"

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The men's UAE Team Emirates has helped raise the profile of the sport in the UAE for both men and women, and she is looking forward to "representing the local girls," Al Sayegh said.

Although an experienced racer in the United Arab Emirates and Asia, Al Sayegh has only raced in Europe once before.

"One concern is whether I can keep up with the level," she says.

"But hopefully, with hard work, I might be able to improve to the European level. And one of my concerns is that in the peloton there are crashes every day. So I just want to be safe during the race."

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), much of Al Sayegh's riding takes place on wide highways and flat, protected bike paths.

"In Europe, some races can be on quite treacherous roads or have steep descents. So I'm looking forward to the race, but I'm quite worried about crashes and dangers."

Al Sayegh will continue to compete primarily in the UAE in the early part of the season to finish his university studies in Dubai, and will join the team in Europe in May.

"I am really looking forward to all the races the team will be competing in and will be here cheering them on from the UAE."