AG Insurance-Soudal have promoted Belgian rider Tess Moerman to their WorldTour team with immediate effect, giving the 20-year-old a mid-season step up from the development squad after a strong run of performances in the early part of 2026.
Moerman will make her WorldTour debut this week at La Flèche Wallonne before lining up at Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday, handing her an immediate introduction to one of the most demanding blocks of the women’s calendar. It is a significant show of confidence from AG Insurance-Soudal, who have moved quickly to reward a rider already making progress inside their own development structure.
Moerman earns WorldTour promotion after strong spring
Moerman’s promotion comes after a series of consistent performances in recent months, including podium finishes and strong showings in stage races such as Valencia and Extremadura. For a rider still only 20, that run has been enough to convince AG Insurance-Soudal that the next step should come now rather than at the end of the season.
The move also reflects the value of having a connected development pathway. Rather than recruiting externally to cover team needs, AG Insurance-Soudal have turned to a rider already familiar with the organisation, its expectations and its racing culture.
For Moerman, the timing makes the promotion even more striking. Mid-season WorldTour moves are not always straightforward, particularly when the immediate calendar includes races as selective as La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Yet those races will also give her exactly the kind of experience a young climber can build from, even if the first objective is learning rather than results.
‘The news came as a complete surprise’
Moerman admitted the promotion was unexpected, particularly coming in the middle of the season.
“The news came as a complete surprise! I hadn’t thought about it at all, especially not in the middle of the season but it’s an incredible opportunity,” she said.
The Belgian also gave a clear sense of the kind of rider she sees herself becoming. While she has the profile to develop on hillier terrain, she also pointed to one of Belgian cycling’s biggest races as a long-term dream.
“I see myself more as a climber, but it’s a dream to ride the Tour of Flanders one day, as I live next to the course and know every part of the race,” Moerman said.
That detail gives the move a local resonance as well as a sporting one. Moerman is stepping up into a WorldTour structure with immediate Ardennes assignments, but her ambition also stretches towards the Flemish Classics, where local knowledge and emotional attachment often sit alongside physical ability.
Ardennes debut offers immediate test
Moerman’s first WorldTour race will be La Flèche Wallonne, one of the hardest one-day introductions available for a young rider. The Mur de Huy has a way of exposing even experienced riders, and for a debutant moving straight from the development team, the race will be less about pressure and more about absorbing the rhythm, positioning demands and intensity of top-level racing.
Liège-Bastogne-Liège then follows on Sunday, giving Moerman a second major test within the same week. It is a demanding entry point, but also a valuable one. Few races teach more quickly than the Ardennes Classics, where climbing ability, positioning, patience and team discipline all matter.
“I’m really looking forward to making my debut at La Flèche Wallonne and also racing Liège-Bastogne-Liège,” Moerman said. “It’s amazing to already take part in such big races alongside top riders. My goal is to learn as much as possible, support the team, and continue developing as a rider.”
That final line is likely to define her first block with the WorldTour squad. AG Insurance-Soudal are not promoting her as an immediate leader. They are giving her the chance to race alongside established riders, understand the level and contribute where possible.
AG Insurance-Soudal underline development pathway
Team CEO Jürgen Foré said Moerman’s progression and attitude had made the promotion possible.
“Tess has shown strong progression and a great attitude within our development structure,” Foré said. “With the current needs of the team and her recent performances, this was the right moment to give her the opportunity at WorldTour level.”
Foré framed the move as both a response to team needs and a development decision, with Moerman now able to gain experience in some of the biggest races on the calendar.
“It’s a chance to learn, grow, and gain experience in some of the biggest races on the calendar, while contributing to the team where possible,” he added.
The decision also reinforces AG Insurance-Soudal’s identity as a team with a clear internal ladder. Development squads only truly carry weight when riders can see a route to the top team, and Moerman’s promotion is a direct example of that pathway working in practice.
Her first assignments will be difficult, but that is part of the point. Moerman is being moved into WorldTour racing at a moment where she can learn quickly, support a strong Ardennes line-up and begin building the experience needed for the next stage of her career.
