In the London-Surrey Classic and Post Danmark Rundt, three new faces will be at the start for Lotto Soudal. Dries Van Gestel and Kenneth Van Rooy will ride their first professional race on Sunday 2nd August. Two days later, Frederik Frison will start in his first professional race, the Tour of Denmark. The three trainees from the Lotto Soudal U23 team are really looking forward to race with the big guys.

Kurt Van de Wouwer, sports director of the WorldTour-team and responsible of the sports department of the U23 team, knows these youngsters very well.

“I’ve been working with these guys for a while now. I know Dries for three years, Kenneth and Frederik for four years. I know their character very well and I know what they’re capable of," Van de Wouwer.

There are many other young riders that are waiting to make their début in the professional peloton. But these three riders were picked to show their capacities.

“These guys obtained a chance because of their results and their age. We won’t put a first-year U23 rider with the professionals, we choose riders that are ready to take the step. It’s up to them to show what they are worth, but they’re wise enough to handle this.

“The three debutants are different types of riders. Dries is a real all-rounder, he can participate in a lot of different races, although he’s at his best on the very tough courses. Kenneth can manage himself well in the Ardennes for example, he won the Tour de Liège this year. But he’s also fast at the finish. Frederik is a typical time trialist, he’s Belgian time trial champion in the U23 ranks . You can put him at the front of the peloton and he will ride for several kilometres at a high speed.

“The début of Dries and Kenneth comes a bit inconvenient. Friday is the day of the Belgian U23 championships. On Sunday, these guys need to start in London. The expectations of the trainees aren’t high though, we can’t expect that they will ride a finale immediately. These guys will participate to work for the team and to learn. Although it will depend on the circumstances and the race situation what their specific role will be for the team.

“Frederik will ride for the team, he can help a rider like Sean De Bie for instance. But he can also go with an early breakaway and in that way he can be in the spotlight. He will prove himself and he is definitely going to show what he’s capable of.”