Kim Le Court-Pienaar: "I haven't reached my full potential yet."

The revelation of 2025 is ready to surprise again. Kim Le Court-Pienaar , the Mauritian cyclist who has captivated the cycling world with her exploits, has no intention of stopping. In fact, she and her team , AG Insurance-Soudal, intend to capitalize on the resounding success of the last Tour de France Femmes to soar even higher this summer.

And the best part is that, according to her, the best is yet to come. "I've been in cycling for two and a half years, and I still don't feel like I've fully found myself as a rider," she told Cyclingnews from her base in Girona, after a high-altitude training camp in Tignes. "We have an idea of ​​my potential, but I feel like I haven't fully reached it yet." These words are chilling, considering what she's already accomplished in such a short time.

Let's remember: in 2025, Le Court-Pienaar had already made history even before the Tour, winning her first Monument at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in a spectacular comeback, less than two years after starting her road racing career. Then, at the Tour de France Femmes, she added a stage win and four days in the yellow jersey . In the finale, she chose to sacrifice herself for Sarah Gigante, finishing 16th in the general classification, but with the Australian out of contention this year, she will be the overall leader for the GC.

Clear goals for 2026: stages and a top five in the general classification. "The stages will be the first objective, then obviously we'll aim for the best possible result in the general classification, which would be a top five. Anything beyond that is a bonus," he explained lucidly. The Belgian team presents itself as an outsider, without the pressure of the big favorites, but with the knowledge of what it is capable of: "We're not the team everyone is banking on, but we know what we can do. We're a bit of an underdog, and that sets us free."

The road back hasn't been without obstacles. Le Court-Pienaar's preparation was disrupted by a bad crash at the Tour of Flanders , which resulted in a broken wrist, forcing her to miss the Ardennes Classics and several weeks of training. "It wasn't easy, neither physically nor mentally," she admitted honestly. "But now I've put it all behind me. I have a great team that supports me and takes care of my rehabilitation."

The signs of her return were encouraging: she finished fourth in her return race at the Tour de Suisse , then did the double at the Mauritian National Championships before flying to Tignes for the final training session at altitude. "The Tour de Suisse was more of a test than a real race—I wanted to understand where I was and what I needed to improve. Then in Tignes we worked on the final adjustments."

Growth isn't just about her, but the entire team. Last year's Tour was an almost unbelievable surprise: "It was a shock in the best sense of the word. We knew we could do something special, but we didn't know it would be this extraordinary. This year, we're heading in with our heads on our shoulders, knowing what awaits us and our potential."

Alongside her will be high-caliber riders like Urška Žigart , Mireia Benito , and Justine Ghekiere . Benito herself reiterated her faith in the project: "Knowing that we can achieve extraordinary results makes me even more motivated. When you're suffering, you can give that little bit extra you didn't know you had. We're all here for a common goal."

AG Insurance-Soudal roster at the Tour de France Femmes 2026: Kim Le Court-Pienaar, Justine Ghekiere, Shari Bossuyt, Mireia Benito, Letizia Borghesi, Urška Žigart, Lore De Schepper.

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency