Lotto Soudal Ladies announced that it has signed Jessie Vandenbulke to a contract for 2020.The 23-year-old Vandenbulke spent four years in the program as a novice, junior and first-year elite, but left the sport in 2016 due to back pain.

She made an impressive comeback this summer, winning the Belgian road racing title with Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport, and hopes to continue this success in 2020 with Lotto Soudal Ladies.

"There was a great atmosphere in the team back then, it even felt like a family," Van den Burg said on the team website. [The players and staff had a great bond. When we meet, we often talk about those days. I always kept good contact with the team and I am very happy to return to Lot Soudal. I feel good at Lot Soudal and I am confident that I will be surrounded by the best care."

Van den Burg turned pro with Lotto Soudal Ladies in 2015 after spending much of her youth in the team's novice and junior level categories; in 2016 she moved to Lares Waudeal, but a back injury forced her out of competition. In 2017 she gave birth to her son and then made the decision to slowly return to the sport while working a full-time job.

"I quit cycling in 2016, in my second season as an elite rider. My back was hurting too much. I couldn't train without pain, and my daily life was problematic. But as time went on, I felt like I was still not ready for cycling. I had not yet achieved my goal. I was often asked if I still wanted to continue racing. So I decided to make a comeback. I am still very happy with that decision," Vandenburg said.

Van den Bulcke returned from racing at the club level and signed a contract with Dolcini Van Eyck Sport for this season. Highlights this season include winning the Belgian Championships, 11th in Gent-Wevelgem, 6th in stage 3b of the Tour de Feminine, and 10th in the final stage of the Lotto Belgian Tour.

"When I made my comeback, I had a plan. First, I wanted to ride for a club team and see if it was really possible to regain my place in the bunch. I was working full time in the beginning, but I still managed to get off to a good start." Then I got an offer to join a UCI team. I decided it was now or never and decided to work half-time. From then on, I was able to train more specifically and get some rest. And I became the Belgian champion. You need luck, but you also need hard work.

"I never thought that my comeback would be so smooth and that I would become Belgian Champion this year. I never had problems with my back before, but now I am wary. I have a good team around me that is watching me very closely. They make sure my back muscles are well trained and that I have the right bike position and saddle."

Van den Burg is looking forward to making a breakthrough in the Lotto Soudal Ladies in the 2020 season, but is also looking forward to being a support rider for Lotte Kopecky in the sprint finishes. She will be aiming for good results in the spring classics, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Gent-Wevelgem, and Tour of Flanders, while supporting her teammate in the Ardennes Classics.

She also aims to defend her national title and, in the future, to compete in the World Championships.

"Winning the Belgian title has allowed me to realize one of my goals much sooner than I expected. 'Now I want to wear that jersey for the second time in my career. That is my new goal for the future. And if the course suits me, I would like to achieve good results at the World Championships. But that will only happen in a few years."