AG Insurance has become the majority shareholder of its eponymous women's World Tour team, AG Insurance-Soudal, and after a dispute among the team's management, the company announced that it will own 76% of the shares.

The remaining shares will be held by Decoulef, which operates the men's world tour team Soudal-QuickStep.

The team's founder, Natasha den Oden, who started the team as a women's development team in 2019, is stepping down as both owner and team manager, citing "insurmountable differences in vision."

"Over the past year, there have been insurmountable differences in the vision and insight underlying this project. As such, I have decided to step down as Owner and Team Manager," she wrote in a statement on her LinkedIn account.

"I do not take this decision lightly. It is a heartbreaking goodbye. I want to thank the riders and staff for their trust, the enthusiasm of the fans, and the contributions of the sponsors over the past few years. Without your commitment, this team could never have grown to realize my motto, 'Unleash the Potential'."

Under the new structure, Jolien D'hoor will assume the role of Sports Manager for AG Insurance-Soudal, while Jurgen Foré will become Team Manager, retaining his role as COO of Soudal-QuickStep.

Doffour, a four-time Belgian road champion who retired in 2021, has served as sporting director for the past two seasons. He made his first wildcard appearance in the Tour de France Fam Avec Zwift, where Ashley Moolman-Pasio finished sixth overall.

AG Insurance, Belgium's largest insurance company, joined as a major sponsor in March 2022, and the Continental team became the AG Insurance-NXTG team.

In late 2021, the team initially received investment from Experza, a company partially owned by Soudal-QuickStep and co-owned by Patrick Lefevere, who manages the team. The insurer signed a contract that runs through 2025.

The often outspoken Lefevere has been under fire for years for controversial statements, most recently being fined by the UCI for "misogynistic" remarks and suspended on condition of a public apology.

Three years ago, he sparked controversy when he said he had "no time, money or desire to invest" in women's cycling.

"When we were able to provide our athletes with the professional environment we wanted to guarantee as a 'Wolfpack', we added a professional women's team to our organization. The women's team benefits from the full support of our professional cycling structure, which has been in place for more than 20 years," Lefebvre said in a press release about the new shareholder structure of the women's team.

"All knowledge and experience regarding performance, training, nutrition, and technique is shared among all teams. Today, our team consists of 15 professional WT riders, 16 DEVO+U19 riders, and 30 staff members, and we are proud to solidify our great cooperation with a strong partner like AG Insurance and to continue building the future of women's cycling together."

AG Insurance Soudal moved to Women's WorldTour status this season, earning one of two licenses available for 2024-2025 after finishing 13th in the 2023 overall team standings as a Continental program.

To start this year's road season, team leader Mourman-Pasio recorded a second place finish at the Trofeo Palma Femina, while Sara Gigante, who moved from Movistar, won the GC title at the Santos Tour Down Under.

This Sunday's Tour de Flanders will be led by Kim Pienaar (née Le Court), who was 9th in Bourges des Pannes and 13th in Ghent-Wevelgem, with Maaike Bougaud, Julia Bogstrom, Marthe Goossens and Ilse Pluimers leading the team, Maud Reinbæk will support the team.

The team was launched six years ago by Den Oden with six junior riders and has grown to provide not only an opportunity to earn income at the highest level, but also a development path for junior riders and riders under 23.

"AG Insurance would like to thank Natasha den Oden for her pioneering work as the founder of this team and for women's cycling in general. It is thanks to her personal commitment and expertise that this team was born and was able to develop, and AG Insurance Soudal is preparing for a promising future while remaining true to its vision of sustainable growth," the team acknowledged in a statement on Friday.