The ties between the men’s Soudal Quick-Step team and the women’s AG Insurance-NXTG team have strengthened for the 2023 season with the women’s team now being known as AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step from January 1st 2023.
This comes after Quick-Step’s team manager Patrick Lefevere and AG Insurance-NXTG’s team manager Natascha den Ouden announced links in March 2022. The development nature of the team was key, with a pathway from U19 to U23 and to the Elites already in place by the work the NXTG outfit has done in the last few years. The team’s motto is ‘unlock your potential’ and the training structure is designed to support that goal. The team created a new Elites squad this off-season, which includes around 50% of riders who have progressed from the previous U23 team.
AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step has announced many new signings for their Elites team with the goal of reaching the Women’s WorldTour at the end of the 2023 season. The biggest signing is South African Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio who will compete for GC in the biggest races. She’s supported by the likes of Nicole Steigenga who joins from Team Coop-Hitec Products, Romy Kasper joining from Jumbo-Visma, Maaike Boogaard from UAE Team ADQ, Justine Ghekiere from Plantur Pura and Mireia Benito Pellicer from Massi-Tactic. The team has also coaxed the return to the peloton of Lotta Henttala, the Finn’s return is looked upon with excitement.
These signings will help round out a squad that already contained the impressive Ally Wollaston and Julia Borgström. Both finished the 2022 season ranked within the top 100 and will have more support to achieve success in 2023.
“Next year, Quick-Step will be a sponsor of professional cycling for the 25th year in a row. The team and our company have grown together because of our shared values: passion, excellence, entrepreneurship, and respect. It’s a logical step in our joint story to support the women’s team AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step Team. This way Quick-Step enables a new generation of female riders to reach the top of women’s cycling.”
Ruben Desmet, President of Unilin Flooring (Quick-Step)
“We are truly proud to sponsor an ambitious project such as the AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step Team. Our corporate baseline is ‘BUILD THE FUTURE’, and that is precisely the mission of the team: in addition to a high-level team, training young talents to broaden the top of Belgian women’s cycling in the future. We firmly believe in the project, which is fully in line with our approach to further expand the Soudal brand through sponsorship. It also fits perfectly with our belief to work inclusively in all aspects of our business, including sponsorship.”
Dirk Coorevits, CEO of Soudal
“As the first title partner of the team, we are pleased to welcome Soudal and Quick-Step, two iconic companies in cycling, as co-sponsors. By joining forces, we invest in the further professionalisation of AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step as a team and of an entire sport discipline. Our project with a three-part training structure is unique in women’s cycling and an example as far as we are concerned. We are therefore looking forward to the new cycling season with full confidence and are very curious to see how our young talents will develop further with the help of experienced riders and sports director Jolien D’hoore.”
Heidi Delobell, CEO of AG Insurance
“We are delighted to have AG Insurance as a titlepartner for this adventure. Their commitment allows us to realize our strategy for the development and growth of these ladies. All the parties who put their shoulders under our women’s team have been active in cycling for several years, so they are familiar with the ins and outs of the cycling world. A factor that is of course extremely important if you want to build something together.
All this has also been made possible thanks to the commitment of some partners of the men’s team. In addition to Soudal & Quick-Step, some of our shirt sponsors such as: Specialized, Castelli, Ekopak, Janom & Safety Jogger also wanted to be part of this team with the aim of building something unique together. Their commitment helps the women’s team to be an even more competitive and stronger part of women’s cycling. This way, they will be able to offer us the necessary stability for the coming years.”
Patrick Lefevere, Soudal Quick-Step team manager
“The partnership with lead sponsor AG Insurance is a real match made in heaven for this team. The values of AG Insurance, namely: Care, Dare, Deliver & Share are an excellent reflection of the values we uphold within our team. Caring for each other, pushing each other’s performance to a higher level, pushing boundaries, connectedness, all these facets are part of our identity.
The partnership between AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step and the development project within women’s cycling that I founded a few years ago is the cherry on the cake.”
Natascha van den Ouden, AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step team manager
