New beginnings for Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio

This week Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio makes her debut for AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step in the Tour of Valencia. The South African looks back at the first training camps and ahead to this year’s goals.

“From the very first meeting I had with team manager Natascha den Ouden I felt at home. We had a first team meeting back in October to get to know each other. At the Flandrien Hotel we did all sorts of assignments to create that group vibe and it was very meaningful. It was all very creative and made us understand ourselves and each other. We laid a solid foundation which is also one of Natascha’s important ideas: a good foundation before building a house.”

The second training camp in December already involved bikes and meant that Ashleigh could already share her knowledge with the younger riders. She is one of the most experienced riders in the team and her experience is just as valuable for AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step as results will be. The second team camp in February also involved the U23 team.

“It was great to meet those young riders too and to get to know them better,” Ashleigh explains. “We rode together and that’s what I like so much about this project. I have been in the sport for a while and there is more than just results. The U23 riders are so eager to learn, as are my own teammates. That’s also how I strive to be a better version of me and lead by example.”

Being at the team camp in Calpe meant Ashleigh couldn’t travel back to South Africa to ride the national championships but she rated the team experience to help her build towards her goals this year.

“It’s no surprise that the Tour de France Femmes is my biggest goal this year. Last year was such a disappointment when I dropped out with a stomach bug when I was in fifth place. I had trained hard to be there in the best possible shape and I was. The Tour feels like unfinished business and with this team I feel I can chase that yellow jersey. There is so much talent in the team and everyone is eager to start racing.”

The first race will the Tour of Valencia where Ashleigh lines up with Lotta Henttala, Justine Ghekiere, Mireia Benito, Lone Meertens, Gaia Masetti and Anya Louw.

“I want to start the season with a bang and show the team colours straight away. There are some very strong riders here including Annemiek van Vleuten who is the big favorite. There are hills every day with a long climb on day three which is the queen stage. The team is a good mix of experienced and young riders. The enthusiasm is almost tangible.

After Valencia Ashleigh will focus on the Strade Bianche, Tour of Flanders and the Ardennes Classics: Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Next to her cycling career Ashleigh is also a business woman. She owns a cyclotourism business in Girona called Rocacorba Cycling and has her own online and offline women’s cycling community called Rocacorba Collective.

“It fits really well with the team philosophy to also pursue a second passion. Some riders are still studying or doing other passions on the side. It is also encouraged that we focus on more than just the bike. When I started riding, people said I should not be thinking too much and only ride but only when I was encouraged to start pursuing my other passions with my career at Bigla Team in 2015, my career really took off. I need that because only focusing on cycling doesn’t work for me,” she says.

Ashleigh studied and graduated in chemical engineering at university which gives her an analytical mind and problem-solving mindset which helps her both on the bike and in her own business.

“My business gives me a different perspective too. It’s all about time management and sometimes hard to combine, but Rocacorba also gives me so much energy. It teaches me to organized and to compartmentalize. When I work, I work and when I ride, I ride. The Rocacorba Collective also helps to empower women which is important to me. I want to play a role in improving and developing the sport for women too.

Plus, Rocacorba is also about teamwork, like a cycling team is. I know we have the right staff to keep it going so I can also focus 100% on cycling when I am the races. It really is like a cycling team with the right people at the right place to get the best possible outcome. It really is the best of both worlds and I am very happy this is encouraged with all the AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step riders,” Ashleigh concludes.