Ashleigh Moolman Pasio is a name that has become synonymous with women’s road cycling in South Africa. The 38-year-old has managed to bike her way to becoming a household name in the sport and most recently represented South Africa at the 2024 Paris Olympics for a fourth time.
“It’s an honour to be a leader but it also comes with a responsibility. I always try my best to lead by example and to be real so that it’s not unattainable to the younger generation or to anyone who is looking at me. I try to be authentic and to be real and to share the highs and the lows as well as my vision or strategies for the future.
“Thankfully I come from a very well-educated background, I also studied engineering at Stellenbosch University, so I think this has helped me to communicate well in the media and over my social media, so I do believe that studying is very important for athletes,” she said.
The cyclist has been working tirelessly over the years not just to be the best at her sport but also to help road cycling grow and improve in different ways. This type of leadership can be likened to being part of a business or a company when it comes to having to manage not only yourself but also those around you.
“Sport is very similar to the professional business world. We have to learn how to strategise, and through hard work and commitment how to make that strategy come to reality. Then at the same time we have to navigate our way through the ups and downs that come along the way.”
“Cycling is one of those sports that there are a lot of challenges because there are a lot of things that are out of our control. So you put in all the hard work, the dedication, the commitment to training, to having a great diet, to sleeping, to recovering.”
“Teamwork and good communication are the pillars of success in any industry. Cycling is a sport where you are challenged to the max and we are making teamwork and communication a success because only one person gets on the podium in a race but there is an entire team that makes that podium possible.
“You learn as a leader in cycling to cultivate a good team environment and to make your team members feel motivated to keep working then they might not be the person standing on the podium.”
She believes that since becoming a leader in the sport she has various roles to play.
“I am often contacted on ideas and strategies for moving the sport forward. I am also a leader within my cycling team: AG Insurance where I play the role of a mentor but am also very well respected by the partners and sponsors and often asked to take part in speaking opportunities or to share my ideas or strategies with others,” said Moolman Pasio.
“I am also often contacted by the media to give my opinion. So, yes, I do believe that I have become a leader in women’s cycling, and I plan to be part of the sport even beyond my cycling years, to continue to help it to grow and move forward.”
Moolman Pasio says it is important to focus on the right areas when it comes to making sure you are successful in your field. There are many different facets to this but she has found a way to do this.
“I do believe that longevity and sustainability always lie in intrinsic motivation, whether it is in life or sport in general. When we are extrinsically motivated by immediate gratification, fame, bonuses, money and products. This is when one can fall short, when you aren’t getting the results and this can disappear very quickly but if you find the motivation intrinsically, then that is what helps you to get through, because your focus is more on personal development, on who you are as a person and the growth elements through the ups and the downs.”
She says that being able to juggle what is on her plate is down to being flexible in every aspect of her life, whether it be her cycling career or personal life.
“To get the best out of ourselves usually when it comes to our life out of competition, so the preparations for competitions, we usually find a routine and it’s a very disciplined lifestyle because every part of your life affects your performance. It’s not just riding your bike, it’s how much time you spend recovering off your feet, what you are eating, physio, x-training in the gym. It’s an all-consuming career, so in your day-to-day life it takes good time management, good planning, and good self discipline and you prepare yourself as best as possible.
“When it comes to competition it’s almost the direct contrast because there is so much out of our control. We have plans and team meetings where we come up with strategies before we start a race but there is so much out of our control in a race that the plan or the strategy doesn’t come into play. Then you’ve also got that flexibility and adaptability to adjust to the tactics or to race situations to make split-second decisions.”
When it comes to how she feels how the sport has progressed, Moolman Pasio thinks that there has not been much growth in recent years.
“Unfortunately, I don’t feel that women’s cycling has moved forward in South Africa in the past few years, it’s mostly gone backward.”
“Unfortunately cycling on the road in South Africa isn’t very safe for women and doesn’t make things easy in terms of the sport progressing. The reality is demonstrated in my career, road cycling happens in Europe, so you have to find your way out of South Africa to Europe if you want to be successful as a road cyclist.”
“I would say the biggest growth would be through mountain biking which is thriving in South Africa, we see Candice Lill who was very competitive at the recent World Championships. I have demonstrated that as well but I feel that mountain biking is more attainable in terms of coming from South Africa because it is such a big sporting discipline in the country,” says Moolman Pasio. “There are a lot of high-quality races happening in South Africa, young girls can take part in school leagues, and then the bigger races, and these are all good stepping stones to Europe.”
She has advised young girls who are looking to make a career in the sport to look at different avenues to help increase their chances of being able to compete in Europe.
“When it comes to road cycling in South Africa: The competition isn’t at a high enough standard for the girls to make the transition from South Africa to Europe, and visas are a really big obstacle as well. I encourage young girls in South Africa to get into the mountain bike scene, it’s a school sport, regular competition, and it’s a great family sport too.”
“Also to look at indoor cycling platforms like Zwift in terms of developing their talent in a safe environment. There are a lot of competitions that happen on Zwift which is great in terms of building strength as a cyclist. Taking that step to Europe is something I would only suggest they do when they are in their early twenties after they have finished school.”
“Then it is still not easy, usually the best route for South Africans to get to Europe when it comes to road cycling is through the UCI Cycling Centre. It’s based in Switzerland and when you apply they do facilitate the visas you will need to compete.”
Her parting advice to young girls is to ensure they fuel their motivation in the right way to avoid various issues down the line in their cycling career.
“It is really important to have a passion for what you do and find the motivation intrinsically this is what allows one to find sustainability and longevity in your career. If young girls want to take up road cycling because they want to stand on the top step of the podium or have a free bike, or a great cycling kit, this isn’t sustainable motivation, so that is why it is important to love what you do because it is a tough sport.”
Main Photo caption: Ashleigh Moolman Pasio is a name that has become synonymous with women’s road cycling in South Africa. The 38-year-old has managed to bike her way to becoming a household name in the sport and most recently represented South Africa at the 2024 Paris Olympics for a fourth time. All Photos: Supplied
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