Tiffany Cromwell, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio Call It a Career at UCI Gravel Worlds after 17-Years in the Peloton

Two standout racers are set to hang up their wheels this weekend, ending their professional careers at the UCI Gravel Worlds in Nannup, Western Australia.

Both Tiffany Cromwell and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio are saying goodbye after 17 seasons in the pro peloton.

They both began with the Lotto Ladies team in 2010, spending two seasons there, before branching out in different directions.

Their careers will converge one last time at the UCI Gravel Worlds this weekend in what will be an emotional weekend.

“I’ve been fortunate to have had a very long cycling career with only one major injury,” Cromwell said recently on social media. “I’ve also been able to experience and be a part of the massive change and growth of women’s cycling.

“There’s been many highs and lows and many amazing memories. And I’m happy to be able to finish on my own terms.”

The 38-year-old has had a high public profile within the sport, winning the women’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2013 plus stages of the Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile in 2012 and 2016.

More recently she has been dividing her time between road and gravel, winning the European championships in the latter in 2023, and also taking victories in UCI Gravel World Series races including Sea Otter Europe in 2024.

She won the Unbound Gravel 100 last year.

‘The demands are higher, the level is higher’

Over the past decade and a half she has seen huge changes in the sport, and will depart with women’s cycling in far better condition than when she started.

“I’ve been fortunate to ride this wave of women’s cycling. When we started, it was for the love of it,” the Australian told SBS. “There was limited support, the money wasn’t there. To have a career, the longevity wasn’t there.

“And then seeing the sport grow, seeing events globally pick up, seeing new disciplines like gravel come in and having the opportunity to race that and to follow the wave of gravel as well and the growth…I am very fortunate because I can appreciate where the sport has come from and where it is now, versus those coming into the sport now… They are in a lot better position but they don’t understand the demands are higher, the level is higher, the stress, everything is higher.”

Cromwell is the partner of F1 driver Valtteri Bottas, making them a pro athlete power couple of sorts.

He recently supported her at the Philadelphia Cycling Cassic, handing up bottles as the Canyon SRAM rider helped teammate Chiara Consonni to victory.

Bottas recorded a chat with Cromwell before that race, asking what her main feeling was as the end of her carer drew closer.

“I don’t have to hurt myself any more,” she said, smiling. “Except for three more times [on gravel].”

“Except when you go riding with me,” he replied.

“Then you will need to wait for me … I will need an e-bike,” she quipped.

Seeing the transformation of the sport

Cromwell described the Philly event as a great one to close out the road chapter of her career. “An iconic race with so much history that was back for the first time in 10 years,” she wrote.

“The atmosphere was electric and as an added bonus we managed to take home the victory as a team with @chiara_consonnii.”

Consonnii is 11 years her junior and is one of those younger riders she said faced an environment with more opportunities than before, but also much greater demands.

Cromwell takes satisfaction in seeing this evolution take place.

“It’s been cool to watch,” she told SBS. “It is great to see that women’s cycling is finally getting to a place it deserves to be and I am sure it is going to grow in the years to come.

“I can look back and kind of talk about the old stories of what we used to have to where we are now and having the opportunity to race in races like the Tour de France avec Zwift and big gravel races, world championships, big races around the world.”

‘I hope to enjoy these final race kilometers’

Moolman-Pasio has also competed in the biggest events and while her online exposure is less than that of the media-savvy Cromwell, she had an even bigger career.

The South African clocked up 49 wins on the road, including a Giro stage in 2021, and was second overall in the race in 2018 and 2021. GC victories include the Tour de Romandie Féminin and Emakumeen Bira.

She has been a trailblazer for African sport and will take over as general manager of Team Amani next year. The team is aiming to compete in the 2028 Tour and her experience will be invaluable in moving it towards that goal.

This weekend, though, her mind is on the worlds.

“One more time on the start line as a pro,” she wrote on Friday.

“Tomorrow is officially my last race as a professional cyclist at the Gravel World Champs in Nannup, Australia. I’d hoped to arrive feeling my best, but unfortunately I’ve come down with a head cold.

“It’s disappointing, especially because I’ve been feeling strong and I really like the course here in Nannup. But the doctor has confirmed it’s not in my chest, so I’ll be starting and seeing what the day brings. I hope to enjoy these final race kilometres and soak it all in.”

Cromwell, too, will share those sentiments. It’s a very exciting time for both, in terms of future opportunities, but also an emotional one as the final days, hours and minutes of their careers tick down.