The two riders will start the upcoming road season with AG Insurance Soudal and Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team, respectively, after team managers Jurgen Mettepenningen and Patrick Lefevere reached an agreement on this.
Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal and AG Insurance – Soudal have agreed on a collaboration, which will see Leonie Bentveld complete her upcoming road program with Patrick Lefevere's team. For the cyclo-cross season, the young rider will remain with her current team, Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal. The two squads have also found common ground for promising young rider Viktor Vandenberghe, who will compete during the road season in the kit of Soudal Quick - Step Devo Team. “This way, they are better prepared for the cyclo-cross season”, it was stated.
Leonie Bentveld said enthusiastically: “I am very much looking forward to riding on the road for AG Insurance – Soudal. After a very successful cyclo-cross season, I hope to take my performances to an even higher level with this step. I am very grateful for the trust Jurgen and Patrick have placed in me. Over the past two seasons, I have raced on the road with Chevalmeire. I did ride on the road in my youth, but in recent years that was less the case. The focus was mainly on cyclo-cross. I hope that this road program can help me improve, but at the same time, I am also curious to see what I can achieve on the road.”
“I am incredibly happy and motivated to start the road season with the Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team. It is fantastic that I can continue to combine cyclo-cross with my activities at Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal. I am truly grateful for this wonderful opportunity. As a first-year promise, I am aware of the big challenge that the transition brings, but I am determined to show my talent. Over the past few years, I have already gained experience in several multi-day UCI races, climbing races, and criteriums”, said an elated Viktor Vandenberghe.