AG Insurance - Soudal set to open WorldTour season at Tour Down Under Women

AG Insurance - Soudal is ready to kick off its WorldTour season at the Tour Down Under Women, lining up with a motivated and well-balanced squad in Australia. The team will be represented by Nicole Steigenga, Alex Manly, Julie van de Velde, Fauve Bastiaenssen, Anya Louw and Mireia Benito as the peloton takes on the first WorldTour race of the year. 

With high temperatures and early-season form playing a key role, preparation has been crucial, especially for the riders travelling from Europe. The squad arrives in Australia following an extensive heat-adaptation block, ensuring they are well prepared for the demanding summer conditions. 

Alex Manly and Anya Louw already showed strong form earlier this month at the Australian National Championships, providing confidence heading into the race. The return of the iconic Corkscrew climb on the final stage adds an exciting element to the parcours and is expected to be decisive in the fight for the general classification.

As a team, AG Insurance - Soudal will look to race proactively, create opportunities throughout the stages and support Mireia Benito in the battle for the overall classification.

 

Sports Director Dani Christmas is looking forward to the start of the season:

“We are ready to start the WorldTour season with the Tour Down Under. The team have been really successful here in the past, so we are looking forward to making even more good memories. Racing in January is always a challenge, but Alex and Anya already started the season with really strong rides at the Australian National Championships in Perth. For Mireia, Fauve, Nicole and Julie, like all riders coming from Europe, the heat adds another dimension, but they have come off a big block of heat training preparing them for the Aussie summer. It’s great to see the Corkscrew climb back in the race, it will make for an exciting final stage to decide the GC. All the girls are really motivated for the upcoming races, and as a team we will look to create opportunities and support Mireia in the GC.”

With strong motivation, AG Insurance - Soudal is ready to take on the opening WorldTour challenge of the year.