Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister David Kralinval has allocated an additional €90,000 (approximately £79,000) from the National Lottery to support the Lotto Soudal Ladies team during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Belgian national lottery, Lotto, which already sponsors the ladies team and the men's Lotto Soudal World Tour, this additional subsidy from Clarinval, whose responsibilities include oversight of the national lottery, comes at an important time.

According to Monday's Het Nieuwsblad report, "Women's sports, including cycling, are something I value very highly," Claringbal said.

"The Lotto Soudal Ladies Team plays an important role in the development opportunities for many young and talented cyclists. It's a great initiative and that's why I think it's important to support this."

The team includes 2018 Omloop Het Niceblad winner Christina Sigard, Belgian time trial champion Lotte Kopecky, Belgian road race champion Jesse Vandenbroucke, as well as British riders Abby May Parkinson and Dani Christmas belong to the team.

Kopecky, in particular, had a very successful 2019 season, winning sprint victories at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Feminas and MerXem Classic, as well as the national TT title. The 24-year-old Belgian also finished third at this season's Le Samin des Dames on March 3, which proved to be her last major women's race before her mandatory suspension from competition.