L39LION of Los Angeles, USA Cycling's national elite team operated by Williams Racing Development of California, has announced the signing of women's World Tour riders Kendall Ryan and Skylar Schneider as a coed team for 2021 The team announced the signing of A men's UCI Continental team under the same name will also join the team next year.

Ryan has raced for Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank for the past six seasons, winning the Crystal City Cup and Clarendon Cup at the Armed Forces Cycling Classic in 2019 and the 2018 SRAM She won a stage at the empowered Amgen Tour of California Women's Race, and was US Pro Criterium champion in 2015.

"Being part of L39ION is a big deal for me. My goal is to encourage women's aspirations and participation in the sport of cycling, women's equality in cycling, share my knowledge with up-and-coming athletes, and win every race we show up in," Ryan said in a team statement.

"I fell in love with the sport of cycling at a young age at a criterium race in Southern California. The Williams brothers and I were on the same junior team, Major Motion. I learned a lot from them. How to sprint, how to ride aggressively, how to position yourself for success, etc."

Schneider, who won a stage of the LOTTO Thuringian Ladies Tour in 2017, spent three seasons with the Boels Dolmans Cycling Team. Still only 22 years old, she won a silver medal in the junior women's road race at the 2016 UCI Road World Championships.

"I will proudly wear the colors of Legion Los Angeles in 2021 knowing that the sponsors on my jersey and supporters around the world are united in creating a more diverse and inclusive sport," Schneider said. 'As a professional athlete and a woman, I feel empowered to use my platform and my position at L39UNION of Los Angeles to make a difference. So it means a lot to me that they have chosen me to serve in this role."

The third American on the women's side is 24-year-old Avery Howes, who is transferring from the Monster Racing team; the DE team men will be led by 11-time national champion Justin Williams, with Angel Munoz, Ama Nsek, and Ime Nsek

Along with his brother Corey, Justin is a member of Williams Racing Development.

"I saw an opportunity to help some really talented American riders," Justin added of Ryan and Schneider's addition to the DE program. These are riders who deserve the opportunity to do what they love most and achieve their goals in America. We can help them do that.

The men's L39LION of Los Angeles Continental team will focus on USA CRITS and USA Cycling Pro Road Tour events. A complete roster will be announced in the coming months.

In 2020, the men's national team had 10 riders, including the Williams brothers, Tyler Williams, Lance Heide, and Thomas Levard.The L39ION of Los Angeles team swept the podium at the 2020 Tour de Murrieta in March, and the team's first-place finish came at the 2020 Tour de Murrieta in May, Cory won the omnium title, Tyler was second, and Justin was third.

Amid the limitations created by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and a string of event cancellations, the team noted in a press release that it continues to work with Outride, a public non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth through cycling.