Urška Žigart will depart from her tenure at Liv AlUla Jayco and start a brand new chapter of her skilled racing profession at AG Insurance coverage-Soudal starting in 2025. The Slovenian nationwide champion within the time trial and highway race stated she hopes the change will result in her progress on the highest stage of the game, particularly throughout mountainous terrain.
“What attracted me to affix AG Insurance coverage-Soudal was that I solely ever heard good issues in regards to the staff, and once they reached out to me, I used to be instantly excited by listening to what they needed to say. I used to be shortly drawn to their imaginative and prescient and the way they noticed me becoming into the staff. It was clear that they’d a powerful thought of how I would slot in each as a rider and as an individual,” Žigart stated.
“Inside the staff, I really feel like I’m nonetheless studying, although I’ve fairly a little bit of expertise within the WorldTour peloton. This 12 months, nonetheless, I spotted that I’m not the youngest anymore. So, in that sense, I hope to cross on some information to the youthful riders whereas additionally remaining open to studying from everybody. By way of racing, I’m fairly a flexible rider, however I actually excel in climbing. That’s the place I can supply robust help, and generally, I’d even attempt to play a job within the finale.”
AG Insurance coverage-Soudal has constructed a multi-level programme that features under-19, under-23 and elite groups with a powerful growth part to its graduating tiers, the place Žigart, now 27, goals to work carefully with the up-and-coming riders on the staff.
Žigart has been racing professionally for the final ten seasons. She defined in a staff press launch that rising up, round her extracurricular actions in music; and enjoying piano and guitar, she was lively in a number of sports activities; monitor and discipline, volleyball, and working. She stated that she gained a love of biking after using her mom’s stationary bike earlier than later taking over highway using and becoming a member of an area staff.
She signed her first skilled contract with the Continental staff BTC Metropolis Ljubljana in 2015 the place she developed throughout worldwide racing for the following six seasons till it folded as a WorldTour staff in 2020. She then made the transfer over to BikeExchange, now Liv AlUla Jayco, the place she has supported her teammates on the highest stage throughout 4 seasons.
Though Žigart is a four-time nationwide champion within the time trial, she nonetheless goals to enhance on this self-discipline on the WorldTour. She hopes to progress within the mountainous terrain, whether or not that is one-day racing or stage racing, and work alongside Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio within the coming season. This 12 months, she completed twelfth general on the Giro d’Italia, ninth on the Tour de Suisse, fourth on the current Giro dell’Emilia and gained the time trial and highway race titles on the Slovenian Championships.
“My private targets for the 2025 season are to proceed bettering in each side, simply as I’ve up to now few years, and to maintain this upward trajectory. I’ve proven that I could be near one of the best in exhausting climbing races, so I actually wish to discover that and see how far I can go when the chance arises,” Žigart stated.
“Primarily based on the conversations I’ve had, I feel I can develop right here in each approach. I particularly wish to enhance on hilly terrains and proceed engaged on my time trial abilities. Within the staff, I can’t overlook the expertise of Ashleigh [Moolman-Pasio] in using GC in huge stage races. I hope to study from her as properly and lend a serving to hand (or leg) each time I can.
“It’s been 4 years since my final staff change, and I’ve to confess, I’ve grown very snug at Greenedge, and I actually felt at house there. It was exhausting to consider altering as a result of change brings new individuals, new relationships, new tools, and new challenges. However change may carry development, and from every part I’ve heard in regards to the staff, I really feel calm, assured, and able to meet everybody quickly.”
