Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio has delayed retirement plans for at the least one other two seasons after signing a brand new contract to race with AG Insurance coverage-Soudal till the top of 2026. The just lately topped African continental highway race champion stated her focus will likely be centred on a high efficiency on the subsequent two editions of Tour de France Femmes.
“Extending my contract with AG Insurance coverage-Soudal means a lot to me, it is about loyalty, belief, and a shared imaginative and prescient for the long run. It is actually an honour, and I really feel extremely grateful to proceed representing the crew I really like. It seems like being welcomed again residence to household; that sense of belonging is one thing particular,” Moolman-Pasio stated.
Moolman-Pasio initially introduced that she would retire after the 2022 season however postpone these plans and agreed to trip for the then-called AG Insurance coverage-NXTG crew as they step as much as WorldTour degree in 2023.
She crammed a mentorship position with the youthful riders but additionally had a standout season successful a stage at Setmana Valenciana and Durango Emakumeen Saria, taking high 10s on the Ardennes Classics, third general at Vuelta a Burgos, second general at Tour Feminin Worldwide, and sixth general on the Tour de France Femmes.
She had a shortened season in 2024 attributable to a interval of sickness that compelled her to sit down out La Vuelta Femenina and accidents, together with a fractured T10 vertebra sustained in a high-speed crash on stage 1 of the Volta a Catalunya Femenina.
“Regardless of the challenges of sickness and harm this season, the considered staying with the crew has been an actual supply of motivation for me throughout my restoration,” Moolman-Pasio stated.
“The concept of constant with the crew really began again in December final yr throughout coaching camp, so whereas it’d come as a shock to some, it feels very pure to me. Seeing how a lot progress the crew has made this yr with the help of AG Insurance coverage and our different companions has solely fueled my pleasure to maintain contributing to our collective success.”
As one of many strongest climbers within the peloton, Moolman-Pasio has skilled success in most of the main one-day race and stage races throughout her profession together with successful stage 9 on the Giro d’Italia atop Monte Matajur and stage 2 of the 2022 Tour de Romandie atop Thyon 2000.
AG Insurance coverage-Soudal has constructed a multi-level programme that features under-19, under-23 and elite groups of which Moolman-Pasio has performed a job in mentoring most of the improvement riders as they step as much as the highest degree of the game.
“With this extension, I see myself persevering with to tackle a mentor and management position, inspiring and supporting my teammates as we develop collectively each on and off the bike. Over the following two years, my goal just isn’t solely to attain nice outcomes and private progress but additionally to assist foster a constructive crew tradition, attain new milestones, and make a significant affect in our group,” Moolman-Pasio stated.
“Extra particularly, after all, pursuing the Tour de France Femmes stays one in all my largest targets for the following two seasons. Utilizing my expertise to information and nurture the youthful expertise on the crew is one thing that actually motivates me as I proceed my profession. I am unable to wait to contribute to the crew’s progress and help the upcoming era of riders.”
