Soudal Quick-Step will reinforce its ranks with three of the most promising young Belgian riders on the U23 circuit, all of whom will be making the step to the World Tour after a solid season in the colors of the feeder team, to whose success they have contributed on numerous occasions since the start of this year.
Soudal Quick-Step will already harvest fruits of their work with youngsters in the recently set up development team. All three of the new additions are successful graduatees from the U23-oriented structure and will try to contribute to the young core around the Belgian superstar Remco Evenepoel.
Gil Gelders was one of the most entertaining names at continental level for more than two years now. The stage winner from 2022 Baby Giro added Gent-Wevelgem U23 to his palmares this year, to then finish Paris-Roubaix in 2nd and as a cherry on top, win another GiroNextGen stage. All of this backed up by multiple top 10 results in biggest races like Liège - Bastogne - Liège U23.
"It’s truly a dream to become pro, and then to do that in a team with a lot of history is just extra special. I had some beautiful moments this season, especially the hard stage in the GiroNextGen, which I didn’t expect to win. My first pro year will be more about helping the leaders, but it will be super nice to ride with so many big names," explains Gelders, who signed a two-year contract.
William Junior Lecerf will only turn pro next year, but he's already got interesting transfer history. The 20-year old Belgian started with then Lotto-Soudal's DT before breaking up with the team to join Soudal - Quick-Step DT. Lecerf's 2023 season record includes 4th place at Tour Alsace, 3rd at Flèche Ardennaise and 3rd place at Tour of Rwanda.
"I have trained hard to be a pro, and now seeing this become reality is just fantastic. I really feel well in this team, in this environment. You can see this also in my results this season. I hope to be up there from the beginning next year, but of course it will be all about learning and gaining experience. Riding in the same team with Remco Evenepoel and all the other great riders there will be very special, and I can’t wait for it," said 20-year-old Lecerf, who committed to the team until at least the end of 2026.
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They will be joined by the 22-year-old Warre Vangheluwe, who has racked up spectacular wins at the Youngster Coast Challenge, Hel van Voerendaal and Gullegem Koerse in 2023; his success in Gullegem a couple of months ago was the one that turned heads after he managed to hold off the entire peloton consisting of many World Tour riders after an entire day on the attack.
"Turning pro with Soudal Quick-Step is just incredible. Since I’ve been watching cycling, I can only remember seeing all these fantastic moments of this top team. I had a very nice season, I really wanted to make the most out of it being my last U23 year. To win so early in the season with the Youngster Coast Challenge gave me a lot of confidence, and then Gullegem I never expected as it was so hard but winning it against so many big names is something I will never forget. Next year I hope to see where I can get in the Classics and help the team where and when needed," said Vangheluwe after inking a two-year deal.
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