Lotto Soudal has announced the signing of young Belgian riders Zandres Vervrosem and Sylvain Monique.

Vervrosem is already a member of Lotto Soudal's under-23 development team and won the overall at last week's Ronde de Lisalle. Monique was part of the Groupama-FDJ Continental team, a feeder team for the French WorldTour team this season.

Monique led the Ronde de l'Isard from stage 2a, but lost the leader's jersey to Vervrozem on the final stage, dropping him to seventh overall. The compatriots, who already know each other from the Belgian national team, will join Lotto Soudal's WorldTour team.

"I knew I could climb since I was a junior, but this was my second real mountain race in two years as an under-23 athlete. I ended Sylvain Monique's dream. Now Sylvain is still riding for the Groupama-FDJ Continental team.

"My teammate Henri Vandenaveer and I tried to isolate Sylvain on the final stage and we succeeded. Next year, Sylvain and I will work together, but not now," continued Vervrozem, who was part of Sunweb's development team before joining Lot Soudal's feeder team this season.

"Winning this prestigious stage race gives me a lot of confidence and a lot of gratitude to my future team. They signed me based on my good test results even before I won the Tour de l'Isère."

French-speaking Belgian rider Monique said: "I am really happy to join Lotto Soudal. I know the other young riders and I also speak Dutch.

"My turn will come later. It's an exciting opportunity and I feel it came at the right time," said the 22-year-old.

"We jumped into a unique market to sign talented young players," added Lot Soudal general manager John Lelangue. 'It was a deliberate choice to rejuvenate the team and focus on the stage races as well as the classics.' We needed more climbers. Together with Herm Vanhocke, Viktor Versheve, Filippo Conca, Sylvain Monticke, and Zandres Vervrozem, we aim to achieve results in the medium term. Sebastian Grignard has already been hired.

"I am happy that Kurt Van de Wouwer's Lot Soudal development team is working very well. Now we can taste the fruits of his hard work," Lerangue said.

Lotto Soudal also announced last week the signing of 22-year-old Australian Harry Sweeney from the team's under-23 team.