CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation is proud to welcome top Italian and Polish prospects Erja Bianchi and Weronika Wąsaty into the squad for two seasons, until 2027.

Generation Sports Director Gosia Jasinska is excited to add both riders, confident they will bring strength and versatility to the roster.

“I think it’s very good that we’ve signed Erja and Weronika because they’re different types of riders. Erja has the possibility to develop into a very good sprinter, and Weronika is more of a classics rider who can handle the short climbs. The riders who join a team always have a fresh vision and bring new air, so this is also great.”

In northern Italy, we find Erja Bianchi, an exciting and explosive young talent. Her roots are nestled between bustling Milan and the picturesque shores of Lago Maggiore, and cycling has been a part of her life from the very beginning. She explains:

“I started pedalling when I was three years old, but I had already tried many other sports because I was a very lively child. At seven, I followed in the footsteps of my older brother and officially started cycling. He stopped shortly after but he helped me find my way.”

Erja becomes the second Italian rider in the Generation squad, joining mountain-bike whizz Valentina Corvi, and approaches her first elite season with high motivation.

“I’m super excited to join this prestigious team. It was probably the most important goal of the season and I’m very happy to have achieved it. I can’t wait to start this new adventure. In my first season facing this new category, I want to grow and learn as much as possible. I am a cyclist with a big heart and a strong will to win, so I’m ready to give my all for the team.”

Gosia shares more about the decision to sign Erja:

“Erja will be a first year under 23 rider – she’s a strong sprinter and her numbers are very, very good. For sure, she has big potential, and has won a lot of races in Italy. When I talked with her for the first time, I could tell that she’s a rider who really wants to grow and develop. I saw the passion.”

Having raced almost exclusively on home soil over the past two years, the 18-year-old swiftly established herself as a commanding presence in the 2024 Italian junior scene, amassing no fewer than seven victories and a string of top-five finishes. The 2025 season followed a similar trajectory, highlighted by a strong fourth place in the Italian national road race – reaffirming her potential in one of cycling’s most competitive nations. Representing the respected junior squad Biesse-Carrera, Erja and her teammates capped both 2024 and 2025 with victories in the Italian Junior Team Time Trial Championships.

Her success extends to the track, where she earned two international silver medals in the team pursuit at the 2025 European Track Championships in Portugal and at the UCI Junior Track World Championships in the Netherlands.

In 2024 Erja stepped took an unconventional path for a road racer by competing in the team sprint at the European Track Championships, claiming a bronze medal. The result showcased her lightning-fast acceleration – one of her most potent weapons on the road.

Away from training and racing, Erja balances her final year of scientific sports high school by enjoying some of life’s simple pleasures – laughing, sunshine, and pizza.

Turning now to northern Poland, 19-year-old Weronika Wąsaty hails from Żarowo, a small village near the German border and the Baltic Sea.

With cycling at the heart of her family, Weronika has found her role models close to home.

“My dad and grandfather were both cyclists, and my dad was also my coach when I first started out in this sport. In some ways, I am continuing a family tradition, and that gives me some extra motivation.”

“My biggest inspirations are my dad and my grandfather – they taught me passion, determination and a love for cycling.”

Combining both road and track, Weronika arrived on the Generation radar through Gosia’s work within their shared national federation:

“Discovering Weronika was a little bit different to Erja because I already met her this year with the Polish National team. I saw that she’s very good in positioning and she’s a fighter. She’s another rider who wants to learn, and will listen. I think this is very important because she’s not yet a big star, and she knows it’s still a long way for her to reach that point, but she really wants to grow.

For her age, Weronika is a very mature rider who knows what she wants and will be good at bringing the team together – in some races this will be a key task for her. She can work for teammates, but she can also take responsibility as a leader when needed. It’s really good to have these kind of the riders because they can perform a double role in the team.”

Weronika is the first Polish rider on the Generation team and joins fellow countrywomen Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney in the wider CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto setup – an achievement she describes with enormous pride.

“It’s a huge joy and satisfaction. For me, it’s another step towards realising my sporting dreams and confirmation that hard work really matters. I also feel calm because I know I’m in the right place.”

Weronika showcased her strength and grit against her future teammates at the Polish National Championships, finishing 13th in a gruelling elite women’s road race. She was one of only two 18-year-old finishers in a field where over half did not complete the race, securing silver in the U23 category.

Elsewhere, in her first season out of juniors, Weronika achieved two top-ten finishes at the Tour de Feminin in the Czech Republic, a proving ground for emerging talent. She was one of only two Polish riders in the inaugural U23 road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda, ultimately finishing inside the top 30.

These results, combined with Gosia’s insight, offer a strong indication of the rider that Weronika is on track to become. Weronika sums it up:

“I want to be a rider who always gives her all and fights to the end. My goal is to keep developing – physically, technically, and mentally – and to gain experience that will allow me to achieve better and better results.”

It is this hunger for continual growth that makes her a natural fit for CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation.

“The team is characterised by a professional approach and a strong focus on the development of riders. For me, this is a great opportunity to develop, gain experience, and reach a higher level.”

Off the bike, Weronika has many more strings to her bow.

“I love singing – before starting my sports career, I practiced singing for four years and performed on stage. Singing helps me relax, calm down, and take my mind off the daily training routine. I also play a few instruments, which I learned on my own, and my second passion is psychology, which I am currently studying.

The arrivals of Erja and Weronika follow the recent announcements of German boxer-turned-cyclist Sophie Alisch and Ethiopian standout Tsige Kahsay Kiros. Further signings and renewals for 2026 and beyond will be announced soon.