Mireia Benito signs on for two more years with AG Insurance - Soudal

When I signed a contract with AG Insurance Soudal two years ago, I had the feeling that this was the place where I would want to stay for a long time. Now I am convinced that it is. Wearing this jersey every day for another two years is a real pleasure. For the values it represents, for the level and commitment that the whole team has shown, and for the kind-hearted people who work here (riders and staff). I am proud to be part of this, and I truly feel at home.

This year, I had the opportunity to play different roles in various races, and I felt the trust that the team has in me. I have learned a lot, and now I am ready to take the next steps. These steps include bigger, tougher, and more challenging goals in all the roles I can play. I want to achieve better results as a time trialist at the international level. I want to help the team more and more in all possible scenarios, and I will seize every opportunity the team gives me to fight for victories.

I know that what makes us special and successful is the respect and trust we all have in each other. With this positive atmosphere, I am convinced that we will achieve great things in the coming seasons.

Off the bike, I want to continue studying. I would like to pursue studies related to biotechnology again, but for now, I am still looking for an online version that I can combine with cycling. Studying helps me stay mentally challenged, and I really enjoy learning new things, even though I have short-term memory and quickly forget most of it. Maybe that’s why I always feel like I’m learning something new... but I like that.

I’ve learned that unpleasant situations don’t last forever, but neither do pleasant ones. So, I’ve learned how to handle a wide range of different situations and still grow and gain valuable experience from all of them. I realized that when you’re going through a tough time, you need to have “blind confidence” in all the work you do day by day (even when you don’t see the results). All that work ALWAYS pays off, it’s just a matter of time. During the good moments, you need to be like a sponge, absorbing every second of happiness and storing it in a mental place where you can easily access it when life is less pleasant. This is also easier to do when the team supports you at every moment. I am incredibly grateful for the care the team has taken of me, and I want to pay it back in the near future.