The Lotto Soudal Ladies team for 2018 will consist of thirteen riders, including six newcomers: Alana Castrique, Demi de Jong, Valerie Demey, Annabelle Dreville, Kelly Van den Steen and Marjolein van Geloof. Lotte Kopecky, fifth in the Ronde van Vlaanderen this season, remains part of the team.
Dany Schoonbaert, manager Lotto Soudal Ladies: “We have a team full of young, ambitious riders for next year. Individually they are all great, but up till now they rode in different teams. When we bring them together, we will have more riders for our team in the finales and that’s what it’s all about. Our main goal was to reinforce the team in general, and I think we succeeded in achieving that. As a team, we are looking forward to guiding these riders at the start of their career and to offering them the opportunity to develop themselves. Of course we are also very pleased that Lotte Kopecky has extended her contract, no doubt we have again beautiful moments ahead of us.”
“Three Belgian riders are joining our team, which is important as a Belgian team. Valerie Demey and Kelly Van den Steen both make the transfer from Sport Vlaanderen – Guill D’or. It may not be the most known Belgian riders, but I’m sure that will change. They already animate finales, but don’t always set top results. Together we will work to change that. Alana Castrique will ride her first year in the U23 category next season. She represented our country as junior at the Worlds in Bergen.”
“The other riders come from our neighbouring countries. The Dutch rider Demi de Jong is the younger sister of Thalita de Jong. She was high on our list because we know what she can mean for a team. She is talented and is good at getting in the decisive breakaway. She rode for Boels – Dolmans and Parkhotel Valkenburg, where she got a lot of experience. Also her fellow countrywoman Marjolein van Geloof will join our team next year. Marjolein is Dutch champion in the elite without contract category and rode for Jan van Arckel this year. She loves echelons and that’s an advantage as we ride several races in the Netherlands. Annabelle Dreville, from France, comes over from FDJ. The past years she focussed on her studies. She will complete those in 2018. She can definitely be ambitious in tough races. She will ride among other the Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.”
“With Julie Van De Velde, who joined our team half-way this season, we also have a Belgian climber. Julie quit athletics at the end of last year to start cycling. We are looking forward to find out together what’s she’s capable of.”
Lotto Soudal Ladies 2018: Isabelle Beckers, Alana Castrique, Demi de Jong, Valerie Demey, Annelies Dom, Annabelle Dreville, Chantal Hoffmann, Lotte Kopecky, Puck Moonen, Julie Van De Velde, Kelly Van den Steen, Marjolein van Geloof and Fenna Vanhoutte.
