AG Insurance – Soudal officially launched their 2025 season with a team presentation at the AG Campus in Brussels, reaffirming their commitment to developing women’s cycling and competing at the highest level. The team, which includes an under-23 squad, continues to grow under the backing of key sponsors, with a strong belief in building success organically.
A team built for progression
AG Insurance’s CEO Heidi Delobelle highlighted the company’s deepening involvement, having become the team’s main shareholder in 2023.
“We’ve been sponsoring this team for the past four years. Since last year, we have become its main shareholder, and our objective is to support the growth of the women’s cycling ecosystem, from training young rising stars to helping the professional WorldTour team reach their full potential. The incredible achievements of the squad week after week, month after month, and now year after year, are a source of inspiration for us all,” said Delobelle.
The team’s structure places emphasis on unity, with CEO Jürgen Foré reinforcing their collective approach.
“Our mission statement reflects who we are and how we operate as a team. The focus on the team and on its collective strength enables us to compete against squads who have more means than we have. The Wolfpack spirit is really engrained in the culture of our women’s teams. At the same time, winning is embedded in our culture, as it pushes everyone here to aim for excellence.”
Team manager Jolien D’hoore echoed that sentiment, pointing to the early-season results as a sign of the squad’s capabilities.
“We kicked off the new season with some strong outings in Australia, Spain and the UAE, and we hope to keep this positive vibe as we prepare for some of the biggest races of the year. We have a great team, and I’m not speaking here only about the riders, as we are fortunate to rely on an amazing staff, people who believe in what we are doing here and who give their best on a daily basis.”
A strong foundation for 2025
AG Insurance – Soudal’s season has already begun with success, including a general classification podium in the UAE Tour for Mauritius national champion Kim Le Court. The team will compete in more than 80 races across four continents, balancing development and ambition.
Among their key riders is Justine Ghekiere, who made her mark in 2024 by winning the mountain classifications at both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France Femmes, the latter including a memorable solo stage victory.
“I am proud of my previous year, not only result-wise but also because what I achieved helped me grow as a rider. Physically, I now have a better understanding of what my body needs in order to peak at the right moment. But even more importantly, I’ve realised how crucial the mental aspect is and I’ve learned to give it more attention,” Ghekiere said.
The team also benefits from the leadership of Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, one of the most experienced riders in the peloton, who spoke about the evolution of women’s cycling.
“Having been a part of women’s cycling since 2010, it’s crazy to see how far we’ve come. It’s incredible how cycling has shifted from being a passion to a real career choice. It used to be considered a ‘foolish pursuit’, but now young women see the path laid out for them in such a tangible way. Every race is a chance to inspire the next generation, to show that women can not only compete but truly shine.”
AG Insurance – Soudal’s 2025 roster
- Fauve Bastiaenssen
- Mireia Benito
- Leonie Bentveld
- Julia Borgström
- Alana Castrique
- Lore De Schepper
- Justine Ghekiere
- Sarah Gigante
- Marthe Goossens
- Kim Le Court
- Anya Louw
- Alexandra Manly
- Gaia Masetti
- Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio
- Ilse Pluimers
- Nicole Steigenga
- Julie Van De Velde
- Gladys Verhulst-Wild
- Urska Zigart
Main photo credit: Cedric de Praetere
