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Strong AG Insurance – Soudal trio looks forward to the UAE Tour
Running between 6-9 February, the UAE Tour will be the third stop on the Women’s World Tour after the two events that have already taken place in Australia, and we will be travelling to the start with an incredibly strong team built around the trio of Kim Le Court, Ashleigh Moolman and Urška Žigart.
For Kim Le Court, the 2024 season was one of (self)discovery and confirmation. The Mauritius native got to explore the World Tour and start some of the biggest races in the world while getting to see what she is capable of against more seasoned riders, with years of experience on the road behind them. Unfazed by the pressure that came with this step up, Kim didn’t waste any time when it came to showing her potential and versatility.
In the Classic Brugge-De Panne, she claimed a solid top ten, followed by a similar result on the brutal cobbles of Paris-Roubaix. Then, at the Volta a Catalunya, only a couple of seconds separated Kim from an overall podium, a result that was an indication of what was to come just a couple of weeks later, at the Giro d’Italia, where she powered to an unforgettable victory in L’Aquila, writing history for her country and our squad.
Now, with the batteries recharged after the winter, Kim is eager to get back on the road with her AG Insurance – Soudal team for the third edition of the UAE Tour: “I can’t wait to pin on a number again. Of course, the off-season was very important for resetting both mentally and physically, and now I’m excited to put all the winter work to test. I have worked in a lot of areas in the past couple of months, and while I am still in the process of improving for my main goals later this season, I am curious to find out where I am at this moment. The UAE Tour can give a good indication of where everyone stands and is a great opportunity to build momentum, especially as the level is high there. The heat and the crosswinds will definitely be important factors, but we are ready to give our best and we hope to be in the mix and race offensively in order to make the most of any opportunities that could arise this week.”
New hopes, same motivation
One of the most experienced riders in the peloton, Ashleigh comes at the start after a tough year, during which she amassed just 19 days of racing due to a nagging back injury. Even in these conditions, her class surfaced on more than one occasion, as she racked up a pair of top-ten placings in the Ardennes before making up for the disappointment of missing the Tour de France by becoming African Champion for the fifth time in her career.
“After a very difficult season last year due to my back injury I’m really excited to be back to racing. I’m hoping for a good year and a season where I can put all the hard work into place again. I want to get the best out of myself. I didn’t force things in the off-season, I did some good quality training and just enjoyed being on the bike, while focusing on a good foundation, which already is a solid starting point.”
The 39-year-old from Pretoria will be making her UAE Tour debut, and is excited at the thought of being there as part of a solid AG Insurance – Soudal team that has several cards to play: “I’m really looking forward to kicking off the season with a World Tour race, as it will be a good occasion to see where my level is at the moment and to make improvements and adjustments for the big objectives of the season. My personal goal will be to have the best race I possibly can. I always want to give my best and I’m ready to do that be it for myself or the team. The team has some nice options, and we are determined to go for some good results. We have cards for the mountain stage, but also for the flat or breakaways.”
A new start for the Slovenian Champion
Unlike Ashleigh and Kim, Urška Žigart is no stranger to the UAE Tour. She raced there in 2023 and it ended up being an unforgettable edition, but not for the right reasons, as Covid-19 prevented her from going for a good result and made for – in her own words – “arguably the worst day I’ve ever had on the bike.”
This time around, the 28-year-old hopes for better luck as she gears up for a new chapter in her career with the AG Insurance – Soudal jersey on her shoulders.
“For me, it’s great to begin with a stage race so early in the season because it gives you a few days to get into the race rhythm again after the preparation period. I think I’ve put in a good mix of training this winter, and I feel ready to start the season. I know very well the stages won’t be easy, as aside from the Jebel Hafeet climb we’ll also have some stages exposed to crosswinds, but I look forward to all these challenges.
“I would love to get a top ten on the race’s mountain stage, but at the same time, I’m aiming to improve my skills in the crosswinds. As my teammates have already said, I think our main strength is the cohesion of the group and the fact we are all ready to work for the strongest one so that the squad comes out of the race with the best possible result”, Urška concluded.