British rider Sophie Wright will ride for Allee BTC Ljubljana in 2021 following the closure of Equipe Pole Ca, her new team has announced.

Wright was the 2016 mountain bike cross-country junior European champion, but joined what was Cervélo Bigla on the road in August 2018, before becoming Equipe Paule Ca in 2020, and in 2019 as Bigla Pro Cycling, the same He rode for the team. However, the team was forced to announce its closure in October when the budget from the new sponsor stopped paying in August, leaving 12 riders high and dry without a team for the 2021 season.

Many riders have since found new homes for next year: Britain's Lizzie Banks has moved to Ceratizit-WNT, New Zealand's Niamh Fisher-Black has signed a two-year contract with SD Worx (Boels Dolmans in 2020), and Czech Republic's Nikola Noskova will also join.

Emma Norsgaard, who announced her move to Movistar in August, will be joined by American teammate Leah Thomas on the Spanish team. Meanwhile, Wright will join 2020 teammate Marlen Reusser of Switzerland at Allee BTC Ljubljana, and the 21-year-old all-rounder is already looking forward to next year with his new team.

"I chose Allee BTC Ljubljana Cipollini because I have raced with the team in the pro peloton and always had a positive and professional image," Wright said in a team press release over the weekend. The team seems very united and I look forward to meeting everyone."

"I wanted to take the next step in my cycling career for the 2021 season and beyond, and signing with my first WorldTour team will allow me to do so and give me new opportunities.

Wright said he hopes to fulfill some of his ambitions with his new team.

"Next season, I hope to fulfill my assigned role as much as possible, while at the same time winning the best young rider jersey in several stage races and seizing the opportunity to stand on the team podium," she said.

Her new team manager, Fortunato Laccaaniti, added, "Sophie is a young girl from the MTB world, but in the last two seasons she has shown great potential on the road.

"She knows how to work and has great potential and skills, especially in climbing. Her selection is part of our program to invest in young athletes for the future," she said.