Anya Louw: “Happy to be part of an incredibly supportive team!”

Anya Louw: “Happy to be part of an incredibly supportive team!”

Our 25-year-old Aussie has completed her fourth season in the AG Insurance – Soudal jersey, but is already thinking of next year and of continuing her development in this environment.

“For me, the most challenging part of being a professional cyclist is living in Europe for nine months of the year away from my family and friends back home, but the team has been incredibly supportive and understanding of the toll that this can take on an athlete that is living far from home and in a completely different culture. A big part of this is the flexibility the team gives us to return home to Australia each year after the last races of the season, and to do the main pre-season training and preparation back home with our family. This helps me mentally reset each year, and refills my battery before the oncoming season. The squad also offers mental support if we find ourselves struggling with isolation or setbacks we may experience throughout the racing season.

Last season was my fourth with the team. It started off great at the National Championships and the Tour Down Under in Australia, especially welcoming fellow Aussie and good friend Alex Manly to the team! Then the team continued the momentum into Europe for the Classics season, and I did my best to support the leaders towards some good results. I had a varied race calendar, which isn’t uncommon for me, as I have experience in races ranging from Paris-Roubaix to the Tour de France and on many different terrains.”

“I am the type of rider that can help our leaders in different ways, such as the early stage of a sprint lead-out, protecting our climbers and GC leaders before a long climb, or controlling a breakaway. I will always have a job to do in any type of race that will benefit the team and the race leader, and I am committed to this role whether I am racing in the mountains of Spain or on the Belgian cobbles.

This past year, I feel like I have improved physically. I put a lot of work in training on and off the bike to improve my strength, and I have seen this translate on the bike. But this goes for the whole team and also the peloton. If you are not constantly improving, then you will fall behind. Apart from the Australian block of racing, some other highlights for me were the Itzulia, where we supported some great results from Justine, Julie and Urska, and the Tour of Britain, where Kim took an awesome opening stage win.”

“Looking at the bigger picture, this year was another massive step forward for our AG Insurance – Soudal squad. The other great thing is that the results were spread out over many riders on the team. I think this is because when one rider on the team gets good results, it is a true motivator for other riders and teammates on the team to push harder and have the self-belief that it is possible.

It is a positive feedback loop for all on the team, the better the results, the higher the confidence, and so on. When you know that your teammates are truly capable of producing good results, it’s quite easy to give 200% for them in a race, and your work will be paid off. All of this contributes to a very good environment and culture between the riders on the team, we would truly all give everything for one another!”

“For next year, my ambition is to keep improving as a rider, especially on the climbs and also in the ITT. I want to be there supporting my teammates in some of the big races of the year, including a Grand Tour and some big classics. As always, I am always hoping for a consistent year on the bike that is uninterrupted by illness and injury.

I would love to line up and compete in the Giro d’Italia Donne! I have done the Vuelta and the Tour de France twice, so it seems only fitting to want to race the Giro and tick off all three Grand Tours, and to do them all with AG Insurance – Soudal would be awesome. This goal doesn’t come free of hard work though. It is usually an incredibly challenging route, so one needs to prove that they are at a high level in order to make this selection!”