Finding her rhythm and rediscovering joy
Zigart’s campaign didn’t start smoothly. Illness in the spring delayed her momentum, but once she returned to racing in May she found, as she puts it, “the right wave” — and kept riding it all the way to season’s end. From June onwards, she collected 13 top-ten finishes and, more importantly, rediscovered the pleasure of racing. “I started to really enjoy it again,” she said. “That counts more than anything else.”
Her second place overall at the Tour de Romandie Feminin, where she wore the leader’s jersey and only lost the title by seven seconds to home favourite Elise Chabbey, marked the biggest result of her career to date. The way she controlled the race — calm, precise, and composed — revealed a new level of maturity in both confidence and execution.
Zigart in action in Kigali
A new environment, a new belief
Zigart’s move from Liv AlUla Jayco to AG Insurance – Soudal has proven pivotal. After years of being regarded as a talented but inconsistent climber, she now enjoys the full trust of her management and teammates.
“Sometimes you just need a change,” she explained. “After a while with the same team you can get stuck in a loop about who you are and what you can do. Here, I found a new approach to both my weaknesses and strengths. Thanks to the trust and encouragement of everyone in the team, I’ve been able to take a real step forward.”
That belief has translated into results — and into a clear identity. Zigart no longer defines herself as an opportunist for breakaways but as a rider capable of building and defending GC ambitions across a week. “Stage races suit me best,” she added. “One of my strengths is recovering well from day to day.”
National pride and a growing Slovenian wave
Away from her trade team, Zigart admits she was disappointed to miss out on selection for the Paris 2024 Olympics, but remains deeply proud of representing Slovenia whenever possible. She also believes her nation’s recent success — from Pogacar to Primoz Roglic and Matej Mohoric — has inspired a new generation of cyclists, even if the gender gap persists.
“There are definitely more women riding now,” she said, “but there’s still a big difference between the boys who dream of becoming cyclists and the girls who see it as something they want to do professionally. There are some young talents emerging, though, and I can’t wait to see them grow.”
Zigart and Pogacar are one of cycling’s power couples
Balancing two elite careers
Zigart and Pogacar’s shared profession inevitably invites curiosity. She insists it’s more help than hindrance.
“It has its pros and cons, but it works for us,” she reflected. “We both understand what the other is going through — in the good moments and in the hard ones. The toughest times are when we’re racing on opposite sides of the world, but when we’re home together, we can do everything side by side.”
With confidence, consistency and composure all finally aligned, Zigart approaches 2026 with momentum. “Women’s cycling keeps taking big steps forward every year,” she said. “I just want to keep pace with that and keep improving. I’ve had a taste of what’s possible — now I want more.”
For once, the spotlight isn’t borrowed from anyone else. Urska Zigart has stepped into her own.