Regarding sponsors and bikes, much remains the same, with Basque bicycle manufacturer Orbea continuing to supply bikes, and other long-standing partners, such as Vermarc Sport, Ekoï and Caps, also remaining with the new project. Even Groupe Wanty, the former title sponsor of the now defunct Intermarché-Wanty team, will remain with the new team for at least six years and will become the second name sponsor of the development team Lotto–Groupe Wanty.
Intermarché-Wanty General Manager Jean-Francous Bourlart becomes CEO of Lotto-Intermarché, with Lotto’s Kurt Van de Wouwer as sports manager and Intermarché-Wanty’s Aike Visbeek serving as performance manager. “Today, thanks to the unification of two historic Belgian teams, a new chapter begins in international cycling,” Bourlart said in the new team’s press statement. “In recent months we have worked very hard behind the scenes to build a solid project, based on the foundations of Lotto Cycling Team and Intermarché-Wanty. We are pleased that the UCI places its confidence in us for the next three years to make this project succeed. The recognition of the UCI ProTeam status for the women’s team also makes us happy.”
However, one very important member of Intermarché-Wanty has not joined the new squad: 2024 Tour de France green jersey winner Biniam Girmay. The Eritrean, who became the first African rider to win the Tour’s green jersey, signed with NSN Cycling for three years.
That doesn’t mean that Lotto-Intermarché will be lacking speed. On the contrary, the team has held on to 23-year-old Arnaud de Lie, who won the Renewi Tour, the Grand Prix de Wallonie and the Bretagne Classic this year, and can only improve with time. Lotto’s promising 24-year-old climber Lennert Van Eetvelt also remains and will be eager to prove himself after a season that ended with injuries sustained in a crash in the Tour de France.
This is a very young team, with only three riders over the age of 30 and no fewer 20 of the 30 riders being 25 years of age or younger. Which means that, at best, the team has a great deal of potential for future success, but lots of uncertainty about its future success remains. However, Van de Wouwer is very optimistic. “[W]e continue to invest in the development of young talent,” he said in the press release. “Newly crowned [U23] European champion Jarno Widar joins the pro squad, and with Huub Artz and Felix Ørn-Kristoff, we welcome two more former European champions from the youth categories. It demonstrates the potential of our group and the quality of our development programs.” The 19-year-old Ørn-Kristoff won the 2024 Junior Men’s European Road Race Championship and the now 23-year-old Artz was victorious in the same year’s U-23 Road Race Championship.
“Talent development remains one of our key pillars in the renewed structure,” Van de Wouwer added. “In recent seasons, both development teams together delivered more than 26 riders to the pro ranks. . . . I am convinced we will continue to be one of the best continental development teams with Lotto-Wanty.”
As a result of the merger, nine riders – including the 25-year-old French rider Louis Barré – have so far failed to find a new team, while six riders – including Elia Viviani, whose 90 wins include 9 Grand Tour stages – have retired.
