Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio has decided to delay her retirement for another year. After taking 3 wins so far in 2023 and being convinced by the plans of AG Insurance-Soudal-Quickstep in 2024, the South African will continue for at least one more year. The 37-year-old was originally due to retire at the end of last season but decided to ride in 2023 after a successful happy season at her new team.
So far in 2023, Moolman-Pasio has taken wins at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, Durango-Durango and the opening stage of the CIC Tour Pyrénées. 2 of those came in head-to-head sprints against her rivals, showing a new skill that wasn’t always apparent in her repertoire in her earlier career. She was forced to abandon the Tour de France Femmes last season and will head into the race this weekend with high confidence that she can make the podium.
“Joining AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step was already an extension to my career and that’s why I initially only signed for one year. I felt from the Tour of Romandie at the end of last year and also at the training camps earlier this year that I am at my best. I love being part of this group of riders and it showed straight away with our start in Valencia. We learned as a team in every race and it only feels like a logical step for me to continuae to reap the rewards of what we already learned and invested in. It’s a young group of riders and we are taking such great steps. I want to be part of the next steps and bring in the results.
I know I am a natural leader and have been since I was at school. My style of leadership is one of leading by example. We rise by lifting others. I want to lead by inspiring and that fits very well with the team motto of unlocking the potential of everyone. I lead actively which means that I see when things can be improved, I propose these improvements but also passively by always being available for questions and advice. I am preparing for the Tour de France Femmes at an altitude camp at Font Romeu in the French Pyrenees. Because the Tour de France race course is one where you need more explosive efforts, I find a terrain here where I can train in a varied way, not only climbing or descending.
In the Tour, I will focus on my goals of winning and less actively on my coaching role like I would in smaller races. The Tour has been my big annual goal straight from the start. Although I would have loved that podium in the Ardennes, the results in Burgos, Durango and the Tour des Pyrenées confirm for me that I am on the right path. I am in a good mental and physical space and I feel better than ever before. The added positive energy of knowing that I stay with AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step gives an extra boost for what will hopefully be a fantastic Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.”
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio
Ashleigh will captain the Tour de France Femmes team which will also comprise Justine Ghekiere, Maaike Boogaard, Mireia Benito, Romy Kasper, Julia Borgström and Lotta Hentala.
