Ladies 17-year-old Anna Meeusen signs with Lotto-Intermarché until the end of 2029

Giving young talents opportunities, supporting their development and helping them progress to the highest level is deeply rooted in Lotto-Intermarché's DNA. The team continues to apply this philosophy to women's cycling as well. With the arrival of 17-year-old Anna Meeusen, Lotto-Intermarché further underlines its commitment to identifying and developing talent from a young age. The young Belgian, who has already demonstrated her abilities both on the road and on the track, will be given the time and support to develop within the team's structure. Through Van Moer Logistics Cycling Team, with which Lotto-Intermarché works closely on youth development and scouting, just as it does with Wanty-Gobert Cycling Academy, Meeusen will make the step up to the women's team midway through 2027.

Originally from Knesselare, Meeusen currently studies at the Topsportschool in Ghent. She started racing at the age of twelve and has since developed into a versatile rider. This season, she has already claimed two victories, finished third in both the Belgian road race and time trial championships, won bronze in the omnium at the World Championships and took silver in the team pursuit at both the World and European Championships. As a first-year junior, Meeusen won Gent-Wevelgem and finished second in the Tour of Flanders. These performances brought her onto Lotto-Intermarché's radar, where she has now signed a contract until the end of 2029. “Next year will definitely be a big step,” she explains. “I'll first have the opportunity to continue developing at Van Moer, and from August onwards I'll be able to join Lotto-Intermarché as a trainee. For me, this choice feels very natural. A Belgian team, a professional environment and, at the same time, a family atmosphere: that's exactly what I was looking for as a young rider. I'm convinced I'll be able to learn a lot here.”

Meeusen certainly has no shortage of ambition or motivation. “I've been dreaming about the Tour of Flanders since before I even started cycling. It was, and still is, the race of the year for me. Last year, as a first-year junior, I finished second in the Tour of Flanders and won Gent-Wevelgem. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to achieve something similar at the very highest level. At the same time, I hope to continue combining road cycling with track cycling for many years to come. I'd really love to compete at the Olympic Games one day. So I'm really looking forward to what the coming years will bring.”

Kurt Van de Wouwer, Sports Manager at Lotto-Intermarché: “Anna is one of the young Belgian riders we've been following with great interest for some time now. What particularly appeals to us is her versatility. She's a strong time trialist, has a good sprint and can also perform well in tougher races. Her experience on the track is another valuable asset. At the same time, she's only seventeen, and we believe it's important not to rush anything. That's why we've deliberately chosen this gradual pathway. Through our collaboration with Van Moer Logistics Cycling Team, she can continue developing in a good environment next year, before getting to know our team and the way we work as a trainee from August onwards. This is exactly what we aim to achieve through our youth development and scouting programmes: identifying young talent early and then guiding them step by step towards the highest level.”