Teams & Riders Inter Lotto Marché merger

[Berniece]

According to Jose De Cauwer (Belgian commentator) Intermarché and Lotto are going to merge. Does it deserve its own thread?

Dutch article:

Lotto en Intermarché-Wanty voeren verregaande gesprekken over samenwerking | sporza

Er hangt een fusie tussen 2 Belgische wielerploegen in de lucht: Lotto en Intermarché-Wanty onderhandelen over hoe ze hun krachten kunnen bundelen, zo is aan onze redactie bevestigd. Beide ploegen zijn op zoek naar geldschieters en willen elkaar sterker maken. "Er is een principeakkoord", meldt...

sporza.be

 

[Tim Cahill]

IWG and Lotto announce intention to merge

Lotto en Intermarché-Wanty voeren verregaande gesprekken over samenwerking | sporza

Er hangt een fusie tussen 2 Belgische wielerploegen in de lucht: Lotto en Intermarché-Wanty onderhandelen over hoe ze hun krachten kunnen bundelen, zo is aan onze redactie bevestigd. Beide ploegen zijn op zoek naar geldschieters en willen elkaar sterker maken. "Er is een principeakkoord", meldt...

sporza.be

Other than that it's nice to see De Lie coming into good form

 

[SafeBet]

According to Jose De Cauwer (Belgian commentator) Intermarché and Lotto are going to merge. Does it deserve its own thread?

Dutch article:

Lotto en Intermarché-Wanty voeren verregaande gesprekken over samenwerking | sporza

Er hangt een fusie tussen 2 Belgische wielerploegen in de lucht: Lotto en Intermarché-Wanty onderhandelen over hoe ze hun krachten kunnen bundelen, zo is aan onze redactie bevestigd. Beide ploegen zijn op zoek naar geldschieters en willen elkaar sterker maken. "Er is een principeakkoord", meldt...

sporza.be

I think it deserves a specific thread, yes.

 

[aruipksni]

IWG and Lotto announce intention to merge

Lotto en Intermarché-Wanty voeren verregaande gesprekken over samenwerking | sporza

Er hangt een fusie tussen 2 Belgische wielerploegen in de lucht: Lotto en Intermarché-Wanty onderhandelen over hoe ze hun krachten kunnen bundelen, zo is aan onze redactie bevestigd. Beide ploegen zijn op zoek naar geldschieters en willen elkaar sterker maken. "Er is een principeakkoord", meldt...

sporza.be

Other than that it's nice to see De Lie coming into good fo

that will have a huge repercussion on the market and the World tour obviously.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I think it deserves a specific thread, yes.

And now you have it...

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Could become a bit messy with contracts I suppose. Lotto with 19 riders for next season and Intermarche with 20. Meaning at least 9 have to find another solution. Guess Widar would be one of them, possibly a good chance for him to get out without having to pay compensation.

 

[Roku]

Don't like it at all.

 

[Berniece]

@Samamba can probably weigh in

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Could become a bit messy with contracts I suppose. Lotto with 19 riders for next season and Intermarche with 20. Meaning at least 9 have to find another solution. Guess Widar would be one of them, possibly a good chance for him to get out without having to pay compensation.

Imagine if Widar goes to Red Bull and Remco stays with Soudal after all

 

[SafeBet]

Consequences for the WT relegation?
Assuming Cofidis finishes 19th would they be saved by the merger?

 

[aruipksni]

Consequences for the WT relegation?
Assuming Cofidis finishes 19th would they be saved by the merger?

the will be save, but honestly the way they are looking now, UNO-X might pass them.

 

[Breh]

Makes sense I guess. Even Belgium is too small for 4 competitive teams and they are among the smallest hovering around the WT

 

[Samamba]

Lotto with 19 riders

As far as I know 22 btw... So yeah this is so complicated. Not sure what to think of this. All depends on how it will be done. But in general I think mergers in cycling are weird with basically one team surviving (which license survives) and taken in the other sponsors. Riders contracted to the team with the license that wouldn't survive are technically also free to go imo.

Like how do you even match Girmay - De Lie. The first one has a longer contract, De Lie is a Walloon star, important for both teams...

I just see way too many problems, that being said. 4 WT teams is too much for Belgium, but then again Lotto and Intermarché both putting in like 8M is still just going to result in a small team.

 

[Berniece]

I just see way too many problems, that being said. 4 WT teams is too much for Belgium, but then again Lotto and Intermarché both putting in like 8M is still just going to result in a small team.

You think it's only 8M each? Or you mean now that they can't find other sponsors?

 

[pastronef]

great news for the wild card teams

 

[Samamba]

You think it's only 8M each? Or you mean now that they can't find other sponsors?

Lotto pays 8, can't do more. Intermarché not even that right now. So unless they do way more they wont have a 20+ M budget. Which is obviously still very low nowadays. Not sure if it's worth then. Like I said. There will be good riders free to go.

Vandecapelle is talking about Girmay to Astana, De Lie on a free transfer. Who knows whats going on.

 

[Berniece]

Lotto pays 8, can't do more. Intermarché not even that right now. So unless they do way more they wont have a 20+ M budget. Which is obviously still very low nowadays. Not sure if it's worth then. Like I said. There will be good riders free to go.

Vandecapelle is talking about Girmay to Astana, De Lie on a free transfer. Who knows whats going on.

Maybe due to the combination of top riders they can get another better sponsor?

 

[Roku]

A bit of PCM and fantasy cycling here:

I would take the Wanty licence and riders, sell Girmay to Astana (bye utterly annoying Eritrean fans, let Vino handle their antics) and bring Beckmoers, Craps, De Buyst, De Lie, De Schuyteneer, Menten, Van Eetvelt and Widar. That completes a balanced 2026 roster. That way, I would love the merger

But I understand Lotto would never renounce their licence, so that's not a move I would like.

 

[AvA8]

In the end van Eetvelt and Widar would at least get a little better support but could find better elsewhere too.. Girmay could get his Teunissen back if we would move to Astana.. interesting situation

 

[Samamba]

A bit of PCM and fantasy cycling here:

I would take the Wanty licence and riders, sell Girmay to Astana (bye utterly annoying Eritrean fans, let Vino handle their antics) and bring Beckmoers, Craps, De Buyst, De Lie, De Schuyteneer, Menten, Van Eetvelt and Widar. That completes a balanced 2026 roster. That way, I would love the merger

But I understand Lotto would never renounce their licence, so that's not a move I would like.

We are on the same page about Girmay at least. I aint following a team with Girmay. I'm sorry the guy is great but I cant stand his fans.

Yeah I just can't see Lotto throwing their license away and to me and given the points it also wouldnt make sense right now. The chance Intermarche falls out of the top 19 is really slim but it is still possible while Lotto is 100% sure about the WT.

I just don't like riders/staff losing their job man. They are just gonna buy out minimumwage guys on both sides... i get they need to survive but hell...

At least identity wise there isnt really a problem. Intermarché also likes Belgians and puts effort into the Walloon cycling scene. It will be an actual Belgian team like it was in the best mixed with some French riders mainly probably. I think Vini Fantini wont be there for a long time anymore and Cube will ne ditched so italians and Germans will be less important (team absolutely needs to keep Zimmermann tho)

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Better one team than none.

 

[Samamba]

Nieuwsblad just makes it out to be Lotto taking Intermarchés sponsors, CEO and some riders lmao. Lotto license will be hold. Lotto still first namesponsor (confirms my fear budget would still be low) and owner of the team.

Intermarche would apply for their WT license but sell it to the highest bidder.

My conclusion: either teams have no idea what they are doing or more likely journalists have no idea cause that last thing is completely unrealistic. UCI will not give a license to a team for them to just sell it. And even if they did give it, their rules clearly state you cant sell it the first year. Selling a license would also mean (a part of) their riders would go to the new license holder.. doesn't make sense at all.

 

[hayneplane]

Lotto pays 8, can't do more. Intermarché not even that right now. So unless they do way more they wont have a 20+ M budget. Which is obviously still very low nowadays. Not sure if it's worth then. Like I said. There will be good riders free to go.

Vandecapelle is talking about Girmay to Astana, De Lie on a free transfer. Who knows whats going on.

If a merged team ended up with neither of those riders on the books for next season then it would be a very unattractive team for race organisers and unworthy of world tour status.

 

[Rob5091]

Edit - it's official, I'm starting the de Lie goes to Decathlon (Team Babs - anyone working at IKEA and called Barbara is automaticly called Babs) rumour!

Seems like my rumour lasted one day!

 

[Roku]

We are on the same page about Girmay at least. I aint following a team with Girmay. I'm sorry the guy is great but I cant stand his fans.

Yeah I just can't see Lotto throwing their license away and to me and given the points it also wouldnt make sense right now. The chance Intermarche falls out of the top 19 is really slim but it is still possible while Lotto is 100% sure about the WT.

I just don't like riders/staff losing their job man. They are just gonna buy out minimumwage guys on both sides... i get they need to survive but hell...

At least identity wise there isnt really a problem. Intermarché also likes Belgians and puts effort into the Walloon cycling scene. It will be an actual Belgian team like it was in the best mixed with some French riders mainly probably. I think Vini Fantini wont be there for a long time anymore and Cube will ne ditched so italians and Germans will be less important (team absolutely needs to keep Zimmermann tho)

Yeah Bini is a nice guy but their fans are imposible to cope with. Also the poor Community Manager needs to post stuff related to Eritrea to keep them happy. They even posted a story about Daniel Teklehaimanot a few days ago. I'm pretty sure he will leave so you will be spared of the Eritrean experience.

I just want them to keep Intermarché licence to keep our guys and staff. Pure selfish. Integrating Wanty into Lotto will feel like the team disappears in a way. But I guess it won't happen and being realistic it is probably the logical choice.

Sporting-wise, apart from Bini I think Lotto has the 3-4 best riders (Van Eetvelt, Beckmoers and Widar as upcoming talent) but our roster is much deeper (Gigi, Rex, Braet, Page, Van Boven, Artz, Barré, Rutsch, Gualdi, Marit, Rota if comes back to his 2024 self). Like I said, take those riders and the good mid-tier Lotto riders (Menten, De Buyst, De Schuyteneer, Craps, Lyvins) and you have a decent team.