Kim Le Court: “It wasn’t just a win, it felt like a release”

From history-maker to biggest supporter: Kim Le Court on Liège-Bastogne-Liège

One year ago, Kim Le Court made history for AG Insurance - Soudal at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, becoming the first African rider ever to win a Monument after a remarkable victory in La Doyenne. It was a defining moment not only for Kim, but also for our team.

This Sunday, however, our Mauritian champion will not be on the start line to defend her title. Following the wrist fracture she sustained during the Tour of Flanders, Kim is forced to watch from the sidelines as AG Insurance - Soudal takes on the final Monument of the spring - this time wearing our special “Donate Plasma” jersey.

Looking back on last year’s victory, it is not the podium or the celebrations that first come to mind for Kim, but the silence just after crossing the finish line.

“Looking back at my victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège last year, the first memory that comes to mind is honestly the feeling just after the finish… that moment where everything goes quiet for a second. It’s like your body is completely empty, but your heart is so full.

I remember thinking about everything it took to get there… the sacrifices, the setbacks, the doubts… plenty of doubts, and just feeling this deep sense of gratitude. It wasn’t just a win, it felt like a release of everything I had been carrying.”

One of the defining moments of that unforgettable day came on Roche-aux-Faucons, where the race nearly slipped away.

“I was already on the limit when we hit the bottom, and I got dropped almost straight away. In that moment, it would have been so easy to accept it… to think, ‘this is where it ends.’

But something in me just refused. I didn’t want to give up on that day. Not after everything, not after all the work my teammates and everyone behind the scenes had put in. So I just kept going, fighting in my own little world.

And somehow, I came back. And what’s crazy is that when I did, it felt like I hadn’t even raced yet… like I suddenly had this wave of energy out of nowhere.

That moment says everything about what that victory meant to me. It wasn’t perfect, it was messy, it was painful… but it was real. And it showed me that mentally, you can push your body so much further than you think you’re capable of.”

Her victory also carried significance far beyond the finish line. By becoming the first African rider to win a Monument, Kim achieved something much bigger than an individual sporting result.

“To be honest, I don’t think I realised straight away what it meant to become the first African rider to win a Monument. In the moment, you’re just surviving, just racing.

It was only afterwards, when I started receiving messages, when I saw the reaction… that’s when it hit me. It became something much bigger than myself. It made me incredibly proud, but also very emotional, because I realised I was carrying something meaningful for a lot of people, especially back home. That’s something I will always hold very close.”

This year, watching the race from the outside is far from easy.

“Not being on the start line this year… it’s hard to put into words. It hurts, a lot. This race means so much to me, and to watch it from the outside after experiencing something so special there… it feels like a piece of me is missing.

There’s a frustration, of course, because you want to be there, you want to defend it, you want to feel that intensity again. But at the same time, it’s also given me even more hunger. Moments like this remind you how much you love what you do.”

Before Sunday’s race, Kim also had a clear message for her teammates, who will line up in our special “Donate Plasma” jersey to support the Belgian Red Cross campaign.

“To my teammates… enjoy it, but more than anything, believe. This race asks a lot from you, but it gives back in the most beautiful way when you truly commit to it.

Wear that ‘Donate Plasma’ jersey with pride. It stands for something bigger than just racing.

I’ll be watching, supporting every second, feeling every emotion with you. And always remember… when you’re hurting, there’s still a few percent left. Push through it, believe in yourself, and ride with your heart.

I’ll miss being there with you all, but I’m right there with you in spirit.”