Urška Žigart’s Tour De France 2025 Campaign: How The Slovenian Climber Redefined Her Career

The 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift marked a massive turning point for Slovenian road cyclist Urška Žigart. Stepping out of the domestic racing circuit with a high-profile transfer to Belgian powerhouse AG Insurance–Soudal, Žigart entered the 2025 edition of the women's flagship Grand Tour with elevated expectations, a designated climbing role, and a point to prove. As the cycling world analyzes her performances from the 2025 season, her aggressive riding style in the high mountains remains a blueprint for her ongoing 2026 WorldTour campaign.

Shaking Off the Shadows: Žigart's Strategic Leap to AG Insurance–Soudal

Prior to her blockbuster move, Žigart was frequently highlighted by mainstream media primarily as the partner of Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar. However, her multi-year contract with AG Insurance–Soudal, which commenced ahead of the 2025 season, gave her the dedicated leadership support and tactical freedom she earned through years of gritty riding. The Belgian squad recognized her pure climbing pedigree, positioning her as a vital asset for a grueling 2025 Tour de France Femmes route that favored lightweight, high-altitude specialists.

Throughout the spring of 2025, Žigart tuned her form in the Ardennes Classics, laying the foundation for her peak physical condition in July. When the Tour peloton hit the brutal slopes of the Pyrenees and Alps, Žigart became a constant presence in the breakaway attempts. Her ability to pace her team leaders through thin air solidified her reputation as one of the most reliable mountain domestiques in the professional peloton, while also earning her top-20 finishes on key mountain stages.

Navigating the High Alps: Key Stages and Broadcast Impact

The 2025 Tour route was widely regarded as the toughest iteration of the women's race to date, featuring legendary passes that pushed riders to their absolute limits. Žigart excelled on the Queen Stage, demonstrating exceptional power-to-weight ratios on the steep gradients of the Col de la Madeleine. Fans and analysts tracked her progress via live telemetry, where her steady cadence and tactical positioning became a masterclass in defensive climbing against elite GC contenders.

For global fans following the action, media coverage of Žigart's campaign reached record-breaking numbers. The race was broadcast extensively across major sports networks:

• Europe: Eurosport and Discovery+ provided uninterrupted, flag-to-flag coverage of every mountain stage.
• North America: Peacock and CNBC streamed live daily feeds with dedicated analytical segments focusing on climbing metrics.
• Slovenia: National broadcaster RTV Slovenija saw surging viewership numbers, fueled by the country's unprecedented golden era of professional cycling.

The 2026 Horizon: Building on Grand Tour Milestones

As the calendar sits in August 2026, the long-term impact of Žigart’s landmark 2025 performance is fully visible. Her ride through France not only secured her status as a protected rider within the WorldTour peloton but also paved the way for more aggressive tactical roles in her current 2026 race calendar. Having proven her ability to survive and thrive under the immense pressure of a eight-day Grand Tour, Žigart has transitioned into a highly sought-after road captain for elite mountain races.

With her eyes set on the remaining late-season Classics and upcoming World Championships, Žigart’s 2025 Tour de France campaign remains the definitive catalyst that elevated her from a reliable support rider to a respected, self-made force in the women's professional peloton.