Leah Thomas has agreed to a contract extension with Ekip Paul Ca. The deal was signed shortly after the American rider finished on the podium at Strade Bianche behind winner Annemiek van Fruten and runner-up Mavi Garcia (Ale BTC Ljubljana).

"I'm really excited to stay in Ekip Paul Ca. It's a very special group, both on and off the bike, and the aggressive race tactics fit my strengths as a rider," Thomas said through the team. [and] I look forward to contributing to the team's continued success.

In June, the team announced that French fashion brand Paule-Ca had agreed to be the team's title sponsor until the end of 2024, after former co-sponsors Bigla and Katusha withdrew their funding at the end of April amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The brand has officially assumed the title sponsorship after its former co-sponsors, Bigla and Katusha, withdrew their funding at the end of April.

"We are very grateful to Paule Ka for their support over the next four years. Stability is key to developing a good program and I am excited about what we can build together in the future," Thomas said. [Every day we work together to be better than the day before, and with that mindset, I think we will be a great force within the peloton."

Thomas joined the Bigla program last year after starting her professional cycling career with U.S.-based teams Twenty20 Pro Cycling and UnitedHealthcare. Her career highlights include wins at the Women's Tour of Scotland, Tour de Fémine, and Chrono de Nations, as well as top-10 overall finishes at the Tour of California and Women's Tour of Britain.

This year, Thomas won the fourth stage of the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana in February before the season was interrupted by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, and resumed last weekend with a third-place finish at Strade Bianche.

"I am delighted to extend my contract with Lia," said Lia. She is a rider who makes important contributions to the team on a daily basis, both on and off the bike. Her podium this weekend at Strade Bianche was proof of the potential she has," said team owner Thomas Campana.

"It's exciting to see what else she can accomplish on this road and it's great to have a rider of her caliber making great progress sport-wise as part of our team. We look forward to continuing to promote this kind of improvement in her career and helping her reach her full potential on the bike."[15