Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio postpones retirement and joins AG Insurance-NXTG for the 2023 season.
After announcing her retirement early in 2022 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio has decided to wait a while longer until leaving the peloton.
“I was very certain I would retire after this season,” Moolman-Pasio said. “It’s what I announced to the world but gradually the idea to continue started to gain ground in my mind. I had one of my best seasons to date and even at 36 I make progress every year. My level is higher than it’s ever been so here we are.”
Moolman-Pasio is one of the most experienced riders in the peloton and has been part of teams like Lotto Belisol, Cervélo-Bigla, CCC Liv and SD Worx. She is a multiple South African champion, world e sports champion and one of the top climbers in the world, who after a long career, is now eager to share her wealth of experience with the AG Insurance-NXTG riders.
“You know me,” she smiles. “I like to share and talk. Cycling is not only about riding hard. There is so much more to it like nutrition, your mental health and recovery. Living a life as a full-time pro is something you can learn and I can’t wait to share my life experiences with the team. Of course, having the team on my mind already, I followed them closely during the Tour de France Femmes and was impressed by the way they really rode as a team with and for each other. Despite the setbacks they experienced with two riders crashing out, they kept their morale up and even wore the white jersey. It was inspiring to see for me.”
The team said in statement: “Ashleigh will fit in perfectly as a mentor for our younger riders as well as showing the team colors in races that suit her climbing skills like the Ardennes Classics and stage races like the Tour de France Femmes where she was one of the best riders this year before sadly leaving the race with illness.”
