Lotto Soudal's Steph Kras expressed surprise and delight at being named one of eight riders on the Belgian WorldTour team for this year's Tour de France. The team, announced last week, includes Philippe Gilbert, Thomas De Gendt, John Degenkolb, and sprinter Caleb Yuan, who will be Kras will coach during this year's French Grand Tour, which runs from August 29 to September 20.

"I am happy that the team has put its faith in me despite the fact that I have barely raced in the Lot Soudal in 2020," said Klass, who started the season with his new team at Challenge Mallorca in Spain in late January, prior to the UAE Tour.

"The team was looking for a cyclist with my profile. He can help me on the flat parts and ride with Caleb on the mountain stages. Caleb is our top priority at the Tour. I won't leave his side on the first mountain stage and maybe I can conserve some energy.

While this will be the first Tour de France for Klass, it will be the second career Grand Tour for the Belgian, who competed in the 2019 Vuelta a España with his former team Katusha-Alpecin and finished 76th overall.

Ewan, meanwhile, made his Tour debut last year in Lotto-Soudal and quickly found his rhythm, winning three sprint stages.

"I rode with Caleb Yuan earlier this year in the UAE Tour. 'Caleb is a true leader. Caleb is a true leader. I'm already counting the days until the Tour starts. This is really a dream come true."

Lotto Soudal, along with the Dutch WorldTour team Jumbo Visma, has already finalized a group of eight riders for the Tour. Klaas, Gilbert, De Gendt, Degenkolb, and Ewan, plus Tim Wellens, Roger Kluge, who will serve as Ewan's lead-out, and Jasper de Buist will make up this year's Lotto Soudal team.

"There is no need to wait any longer. The athletes are all ready to start competing," said team general manager John Lerang. There is no point in keeping the program a secret from everyone. On the contrary, it gives everyone peace of mind."