Slovenian champion Urška Žigart will leave Liv AlUla Jayco at the end of the season and take up a new role with AG Insurance-Soudal in 2025. Known for her climbing skills, the four-time national time trial champion hopes the change will lead to further growth, particularly on mountainous terrains. The move had been previously announced back in July when Patrick Lefevere dropped the news in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad.
Reflecting on her upcoming transition, Žigart admitted, “It was hard to think about changing because change brings new people, relationships, equipment, and challenges, but change can also bring growth.” She expressed confidence in her new team, drawn to their vision of how she fits in both as a rider and a person. “What attracted me to join AG Insurance-Soudal was that I only ever heard good things about the team, and when they reached out to me, I was immediately interested… It was clear that they had a strong idea of how I would fit in.”
Now 27, Žigart has been a professional cyclist for ten seasons. Her journey began in Slovenia, where she first discovered her love for the sport after riding her mother’s stationary bike. From those early days, Žigart transitioned to road riding, joining a local team and eventually signing her first professional contract with BTC City Ljubljana in 2015. Over the years, she’s competed at the highest level, spending the last four seasons with Liv AlUla Jayco.
Looking ahead to her new team, Žigart remains committed to development. “Within the team, I feel like I am still learning, even though I have quite a bit of experience in the WorldTour peloton. This year, however, I realised that I’m not the youngest anymore. So, in that sense, I hope to pass on some knowledge to the younger riders while also remaining open to learning from everyone.”
AG Insurance-Soudal has a structured programme that includes under-19, under-23, and elite teams, and Žigart is keen to work closely with its rising talents. Although she excels in climbing, she is determined to continue improving her time trial abilities and contribute more in hilly terrain races. “I’ve shown that I can be close to the best in hard climbing races, so I really want to explore that and see how far I can go when the opportunity arises.”
With a successful 2024 season behind her—finishing 12th overall at the Giro d’Italia, ninth at the Tour de Suisse, and fourth at Giro dell’Emilia—Žigart is eager to make her mark at AG Insurance-Soudal. She also mentioned her admiration for teammate Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, whose experience in stage races she hopes to learn from. “I can’t overlook the experience of Ashleigh in riding GC in big stage races. I hope to learn from her as well and lend a helping hand (or leg) whenever I can.”
As the new season approaches, Žigart is ready to embrace her role with AG Insurance-Soudal, confident in the opportunities ahead. “It’s been four years since my last team change… I’ve grown very comfortable at Greenedge, and I really felt at home there. But from everything I’ve heard about the team, I feel calm, confident, and ready to meet everyone soon.”
