AG Insurance-NXTG confirmed that it would launch a new elite team from the 2023 season, a major step in its ambition to reach Women’s WorldTour level in the near future.
The new squad was designed as a natural extension of the team’s existing development model. More than half of the riders from the U23 set-up were set to move into the elite ranks, showing that the project was serious about promoting from within and creating a clearer route to the top of the sport.
That group included the entire Tour de France Femmes line-up of Julia Borgstrom, Anya Louw, Gaia Masetti, Lone Meertens, Ilse Pluimers and Ally Wollaston. Britt Knaven and Maud Rijnbeek were also named among the riders stepping up. AG Insurance-NXTG added that more experienced signings would be announced later to complete the roster.
The broader significance of the announcement sat in the structure behind it. By adding an elite team to its NXTG programme, the organisation was creating a full pathway for riders to progress from juniors to U23 level and then into the senior professional ranks.
Natascha den Ouden, CEO of AG Insurance-NXTG, said that model represented how development should work in the women’s peloton.
“We have officially applied to become a Women’s World Team. My opinion is that having three teams to give young and aspiring cyclists a path to grow from juniors through U23 to Women’s WorldTour level is the example of how it should be done in the women’s peloton. The fact we take over half of our current U23 riders to the elite team is testimony of our vision to grow and develop from the bottom up,” den Ouden said.
Further announcements on additional riders and the final shape of the 2023 team were expected in due course.
