Lotto Soudal has announced that Danish Andreas Krohn, currently with the Danish professional team Rewal Securitas, will join the Belgian WorldTour team on a two-year contract starting in 2021.The 22-year-old Krohn will begin the 2020 season with the Saudi Arabian Tour He has had a strong season, winning the youth class, being part of the breakaway group on stage 4 of the Tour de Wallonie, and finishing second in the road race at the Danish National Championships.

"The World Tour was always my ultimate ambition," he said. Now I have a foot in the door and two years to prove myself. I don't think I've already succeeded. The hard work is just beginning and my challenge is to show that I can progress as a rider."

"It's a big step and I'm still young, but after four years in Liwaal I think it's a good moment for my development," he continued.

"Lot Soudal is working hard on my development as a rider and also as a person. Lot Soudal is focused on my growth as a rider and as a person.

Cron started the 2020 season strong, finishing seventh in the opening stage of the Saudi Arabian Tour after a group sprint to take the white jersey as best young rider. He followed that up with a ninth-place finish at the Trofeo Raigeria in Italy, and after the closure of Pro Cycling due to the coronavirus, Krohn rode strongly at the Tour de Wallonie, finishing fourth on stage 4 with Zdenek Stibal of Detuninck-Quick Step and He formed part of a breakaway group that included Alpecin Phoenix's Scott Thwaites.

Kron was then overtaken in the final kilometer by Dečuninck-Quickstep's Kasper Asgreen in Sunday's Danish national championship road race, finishing second.

"I've worked with this talented young rider for four years and am excited to have him on the World Tour. It's a natural step for him and I know Lot Soudal will be happy to sign Andreas." I think Lotto Soudal will be happy to have signed with Andreas.

Lotto Soudal's general manager, John Lelangue, added: "I think Andreas is a natural step for him, and I think Lotto Soudal will be happy to sign Andreas. 'We saw him finish fifth in last year's World Championships (under-23 road race) in difficult conditions with bad weather. He is a unique rider.

"I've been watching Andreas for a long time. This is a big step for Andreas, but as a team we are going to give him our best support to continue his positive development. Andreas made it clear to us that he wants to excel in the hilly classics and week-long stage races. We will give him the time he needs, but we are confident he will be able to show what he is capable of soon."

Kron will represent Denmark in the under-23 road race at the UEC Road European Championships in Plouay, France, on Thursday.