Lotto Soudal Ladies has announced the addition of 22-year-old Belgian Elise Vander Sande and 19-year-old Dutchwoman Silke Smulders for 2021.

Vander Sande is the reigning amateur national champion, finishing fourth in the elite women's road race at the Belgian national championships this past September. She has spent the past five seasons riding for national team Keukens Redant while studying rehabilitation science and physical therapy at university, graduating in June.

"I had a great five years with Keukens Redant and the team supported my studies, but I chose Lot Soudal to take my cycling career to the next level," Vander Sande said in a team press release.

On what she brings to the new team, Vander Sande continued: "I'm good on climbs and I like long climbs. But I haven't raced abroad yet, and that's one of the reasons I decided to move to Lotto Soudal. The team always puts together a good program and I want to discover what I am capable of."

"I am explosive, I can hold my own in a sprint from a small group, and I have the courage to take my place in the peloton. I look forward to learning and growing further as a rider and supporting my teammates at Lotto Soudal."

Meanwhile, Smolder, still studying sustainable innovation at Eindhoven University, rode his first season under 23 in 2020, and was part of the Dutch national team at the European Championships U23 road race in Plouay, France in August, finishing 8th He finished in eighth place and helped teammate Ronneke Uneken win the silver medal.

Smulder, a former ice skater, also proved her ability in tough races, finishing 19th in the Trophée des Glimpse, a Belgian mountain one-day race held in September.

"I'm good on hilly courses like those in the Dutch province of Limburg and the Belgian Ardennes. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do on the mountain courses."

"I am still young and there are exciting things ahead of me, and I was very happy to be able to compete in the European Championships as a first year U23 rider. Everyone in the team was happy with my work. Even though I dropped Roneke Uneken in the sprint, I was able to do well for myself. It felt great to get a good result at such an important moment.

"I have been racing since I was 12 years old. As a junior I gained confidence by being selected twice for the World Championships, and in my first year as a U23 rider I competed in the beautiful European Championships."

"I want to see how far I can go in cycling and stepping up to the Lotto Soudal Ladies is a step towards getting better.

Joining Lotto Soudal Ladies are Anna Prihita of Poland from Trek Segafredo and Hanna Nilsson of Sweden from Parkhotel Valkenburg: Christina Sigor, Danique Brahm, Jessie Vandenburg, Alana Kastrike, Lorne Mertens, and Abby Mae Parkinson, and four new members.