Alpecin Deceuninck has announced the signing of five new riders for the 2023 season and beyond. Team DSM's versatile Danish rider Søren Krag Andersen is the first of the Belgian team's acquisitions for next year's promotion to the World Tour.

With Mathieu van der Pol and Yasper Philipsen, the Belgian team has focused on sprints and classics.

27-year-old Claf Andersen has spent six seasons with Team DSM, winning two stages in the Tour de France and the Paris Tour in that time. He joins Alpecin on a two-year deal and will be a key rider in the spring classics as well as other stages.

Quinten Hermans, runner-up in Liège-Bastogne-Liège this spring, will also join from Intermarque-Wanty-Gobert on a two-year contract. The Belgian rider will make a breakthrough in the 2022 season and further strengthen the core of the Alpecin-Desseuninck classics after a contract dispute with Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert.

Both Claf Andersen and Hermans were unexpectedly omitted from last month's Tour de France team.

"It's not clear why they have to stay home. But I am sure it has nothing to do with sport. It's very disappointing," Hellmans said.

23-year-old sprinter Kayden Groves has signed a three-year contract with the team, ending his three-year run with Bike Exchange Jayco.

The Australian has two wins and 10 podium finishes in 2022, including a WorldTour victory at Volta a Catalunya.BikeExchange-Jayco signed Dylan Groenewegen last year and recently extended its contract with Michael Matthew.

Fellow Australian Jensen Plowright will also join for the next three seasons as he turns pro from Groupama-FDJ's Continental Development Team.

The 22-year-old took part in the Tour de l'Avenir last year and has a stage win at Le Triptyque des Mons et Chateaux in 2022.

Finally, Italian rider Nicola Consi will step up from the Alpecin-Desseuninck development team for the 2023 season. The 25-year-old rider was previously with the now defunct Gazprom Rusvelo team, but was without a team for three months before making the move.

The five additions represent a significant strengthening of the team as Alpecin Deceuninck prepares to move up to the World Tour level in 2023.

Team manager Philippe Rudhoeft confirmed that the team will apply for the 2023-25 World Tour status, and with the team currently in the top 10 in the points standings, the step up should be no problem.

"The World Tour is the next logical step for the team," Rudhoft said in May.

"I see it as a result of the growth we've had and winning the pro team ranking is not a given, I'm very happy to have won two times in a row, but it does put pressure on us. I'm not afraid of pressure, but this gives us a chance to work on the long term.