Love for moms, women, and (former) girlfriends on International Women’s Day: "She’s there for me every day"

On Saturday, March 8, 2025, Strade Bianche took a brief pause from race analyses at the start. IDLProCycling.com headed to the mixed zone to ask some of the sport’s biggest names about the most important women in their lives—and more importantly, why. Their responses were heartwarming.

In cycling, the divide between men and women is becoming less and less prominent. Many WorldTour teams now have both men’s and women’s squads, and at Strade Bianche, the riders were introduced together on Friday afternoon. International Women’s Day is not just another day—it’s a moment to appreciate and celebrate the women who play a crucial role in their lives.

Tadej Pogacar, the biggest star in cycling right now, has been leading by example for years. He is engaged to pro cyclist Urska Zigart, and after his Strade Bianche victory last year, he spoke glowingly about his fiancée. "She’s an incredible help to me, more than I can even admit. Without her, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do—she makes my life easier, both on and off the bike."

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider often shares his love for Urska on his official channels. "She understands me as a fellow professional, she supports me, and sometimes she even puts her own goals aside to help me. I try to do the same for her whenever I can. I’m just really happy that she’s often there with me—I’m so grateful for her."

Read more below the photo.

Pogacar (center) and Urska (right) during a recon ride

For many cyclists, their mom is the most important woman in their life

A quick survey in the peloton doesn’t exactly yield diverse answers—many riders, unsurprisingly, put their own mother at the top of their list. "She is incredibly important to me. I spent the first 20 years of my life with her, and she has had a huge impact on how we grew up," said Tobias Halland Johannessen of Uno-X Mobility. "She works as a security guard in what is still very much a man's world, but she’s been doing it her whole life."

Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost) shared some heartfelt words: "It’s a cliché, but my mother has been there for me my entire life. She and my father drove me all over Denmark, and even though we were a family of four kids and they never wanted to favor one over the other, my cycling was always a priority. They made sure we had an amazing childhood."

"My mother gave me life and has always been passionate about the fact that I give my life to this sport," Davide Formolo (Movistar) echoed that sentiment. The same was said by Marc Hirschi (Tudor): "After all, she brought me into this world and always puts a smile on my face." And Attila Valter (Visma | Lease a Bike) added: "My mother has supported me throughout my entire career, and now that I’m a pro, I see her less and less. After Tirreno, I’ll finally be back in Hungary with my family. That will be really nice."

Read more below the photo.

Don't take your wife or girlfriend for granted, cyclists say aloud

Alongside mothers, the girlfriends and wives of the riders also received major praise. "She always supports me, and together, we make a great team at home," said Tobias Halland Johannessen. "My mother and my girlfriend, Lotte, are both here today, and it’s really nice to feel that support. They take care of me," added Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto).

Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck) elaborated further: "My girlfriend supports me every single day in my sport, even while managing her own job. She has to sacrifice a lot to travel with me to races, and people often underestimate the daily maintenance a cyclist requires." Davide Formolo (Movistar) shared a heartfelt sentiment: "My wife always gives me 100 percent support. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. And four years ago, my daughter changed our lives forever."

Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) echoed that thought: "The most important women in my life are my mother, my wife, and my daughter. I can’t choose between them, sorry. As you get older, you realize more and more just how important they are. They are very special." Just how special? Attila Valter (Visma | Lease a Bike) summed it up beautifully: "My ex-girlfriend is still very important in my life. We are no longer together because cycling and the lifestyle that comes with it are very difficult, but we are still there for each other. She and my mother took care of me for ten years. We are still very close, and I think it’s beautiful that you can still have a relationship with someone you once loved."

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