The marketing department at Kross did a very nice job and used a graphic to announce that there was still a shadow to be filled with color, thus increasing the suspense. Only insiders knew that it would be Ariane Lüthi. As a marathon specialist, you wouldn't necessarily have guessed it from the brand's previous strategy.
Ariane Lüthi was forced to look for a new team after the end of the South African Team Spur. The 2016 Marathon World Championship fourth-place finisher, five-time Cape Epic winner and three-time Swiss champion wrote on her Twitter account that it "still feels unreal to wear the jersey of the Kross Racing Team."

One reason for signing Ariane Lüthi could be the Cape Epic. Kross already wanted to send Maja Wloszczowska to the start line last year, together with Jolanda Neff. However, the Swiss rider broke her collarbone in the winter and had to pull out.
However, there has been no corresponding statement from those involved at the moment.