Inside Ashleigh’s Samsonite suitcase

Inside Ashleigh’s Samsonite suitcase

A pro rider spends more than 100 days away from home each year. Constantly on the go, moving from one race or another or from a competition to a training camp, they need to remain organised all the time and make sure they always have with them the most important items that make life on the road much easier.

This is where Samsonite comes into play. As one of our team’s partners, they supply the riders with high-quality suitcases that accompany the AG Insurance - Soudal members from the first until the last month of the year, across various continents and more than a dozen different countries.

Curious about what it entails to travel so frequently during the season and what a professional rider keeps in her suitcase, we spoke with Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, the South African ITT Champion who’s currently enjoying a strong and consistent La Vuelta Femenina campaign in what’s her final season in the World Tour peloton.

“After so many years of racing at the highest level, packing has become second nature. Since turning pro, I’d say I’ve packed roughly 60 to 80 times per year. Over 17 years, that adds up to somewhere between about 1000 and 1300 times. So yes, it’s safe to say I have plenty of practice!

Compared to how things were in the beginning, it’s honestly super easy now. Sometimes after a race, I even leave a few essentials in my suitcase - I’ll wash them and put them straight back because they’re things I only use when I’m with the team, not at home. That definitely saves time. My Samsonite suitcase has also made things even easier over the past couple of years. It’s just perfectly designed for packing: I use one side for all my clothes and cycling gear, and the other side for extra items. I tend to bring quite a few extras because I like having my comforts with me - it helps me feel good and properly prepared for racing.

What I pack is pretty similar whether it’s a one-day race or a stage race. The main difference is that for longer races, I might bring a few extra comfort items - especially things like food or coffee. In terms of clothing, it actually doesn’t change much. We’re very well looked after by the team, and our laundry is done daily, so there’s no need to overpack. In fact, bringing less makes it much easier to stay organised, especially during stage races when you’re moving hotels every day.

The biggest difference is in the extras I bring for comfort. I always pack my coffee maker and a mini kettle because I love starting my morning quietly in my room with a coffee before heading to breakfast. I also bring my own coffee - more if I’m away longer, less if it’s a short trip. Food is another essential. I always have dark chocolate with me (just in case!), plus some breakfast basics like oats and medjool dates. I never like to be caught without something to eat. Other essentials include earphones, a sleep mask, my 6D supplements - vitamins and minerals - to help me stay healthy throughout racing, and a book.

Speaking of books, I enjoy reading a wide variety of them, and it often depends on my mood or what I’m curious about at the time. That said, I’m generally drawn to books where I can learn something or gain a new perspective. For example, I recently read Invisible Women, which explores data bias in a world largely designed around men - that was really eye-opening.

On the other hand, I also enjoy more narrative-driven or fictional stories, like Life of Pi, which blends fantasy with deeper life lessons. Right now, I’m reading The Herd, which is more of a fictional story but still tackles real-world themes, particularly around differing perspectives on vaccination and how people make those decisions. So overall, I’d say I like books that either teach me something new or make me reflect, even if they come in very different formats or genres.

My Samsonite suitcase has been incredibly helpful to carry everything I need when joining the team for a race. It’s lightweight, easy to handle, and very durable. The two-compartment design makes organising really simple. I’ve had it since joining the Wolfpack in 2023, and it’s been through everything - from European stage races to gravel races in South Africa, where it’s been transported in vans over rough dirt roads. It’s taken a lot, and it’s still in great condition, which says everything about its quality.”