Lotta Hentala (née Lepisto) will return to the women's pro peloton in 2023 with AG Insurance-NXTG after a period of time away from the sport due to childbirth.

Hentala has had a successful racing career, notably winning Ghent-Wevelgem in 2017, winning two stages in the Women's Tour, and finishing on the podium in several races, including the World Championship Road Race, Ride London Classic, and La Course.

She joined Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling in 2021 and was the only Finnish representative in women's road racing to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, but was unable to race because she was pregnant with her son Olavi.

"After giving birth to my son Olavi in January, I started riding again in March. I really enjoyed it and the 2024 Paris Olympics immediately came to mind. It's a great flat course and very ambitious," Hentala said in a team press release.

In addition to taking maternity leave, Hentala cited burnout as the reason for her extended absence from racing.

"I haven't told anyone that I have officially retired, but it is known that I suffered mentally for a while. That's in the past now," she added.

"My perspective has changed. Of course I have ambitions to make this new start a success and I have Paris in mind because it is flat and a great course.

Hentala joins AG Insurance-NXTG along with Ashley Moolman-Pasio, his teammate at Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling in 2017. The addition of these two riders is indicative of the team's ambition to become a sister team to Quick Step this year and to obtain a World Tour license in 2023.

In Hentala's absence, women's cycling continues to grow with the inaugural Paris-Roubaix Fam and Tour de France Fam.

"It's an exciting challenge coming back from a very low level. I'm looking forward to seeing how far I can go," she said. 'Women's cycling is very exciting right now and I want to be part of it again. I watch a lot of women's cycling as a commentator for Eurosport and the level is high!

"Things are changing fast and I want to be part of that change. Races like Paris-Roubaix are a dream to run and I hope to be ready for that by next year, if not 2024."[21