Ilse Pluimers, the 22-year-old Dutch cyclist, has extended her contract with AG Insurance-Soudal until the end of 2026. The announcement was made on Sunday 13th October, where Pluimers expressed her happiness with the renewed commitment from her team.
“I am incredibly happy with the trust the team has placed in me,” said Pluimers in a press release. “It really gives me a great feeling, and I am so pleased that I can extend my contract. The team feels like one big family to me, and I truly feel at home here. It’s comforting to know that I can continue to be a part of this close-knit and warm group in the coming years.”
Pluimers, who has shown her talent in the classics, highlighted that the spring season remains a key focus for her, especially with her sights set on Paris Roubaix Femmes. “The spring season is a particularly important goal for me. Without a doubt, it’s my favourite time to race, and I’m really looking forward to delivering my best performances, especially in Paris-Roubaix. This is the race I’ve set my sights on, and I’m determined to achieve strong results here.”
While her focus is on the upcoming spring races, she also underlined her aspirations beyond the races themselves. Pluimers is keen to further her development both as an athlete and as an individual. “Off the bike, it’s also a goal of mine to continue developing myself as a person, both within and outside of the sport,” she shared.
Looking to the future, Pluimers is hopeful that she can take on more of a leadership role within the team. “As for my role in the team, I hope to take on more leadership in the future. I want to further develop myself as a classics rider and share my experience and knowledge with the younger riders. The idea of making an even greater contribution to the team’s success and supporting my teammates motivates me immensely to keep growing in my role as a rider,” she added.
Pluimers has been with AG Insurance-Soudal for several seasons and has now solidified her place in the squad for at least two more years, with her enthusiasm and ambitions pushing her forward into the next phase of her career.
