Teams & Riders Lotto Cycling Team

[Samamba]

It seemed to be less political back in the Omega-Pharma days? Hard to imagine a different sponsor as the first name now or an Aussie GC leader in the Tour.

It was, and it might sound weird for the outside (definitely non-Belgians), but that period is exactly why they don't really want that anymore. Back then they had the money, but the attention (in Belgium) was all on Omega Pharma, and especially their owner Marc Coucke. The results were great, but the Lottery did not like Coucke's attention antics at all. And while I understand the aversion towards someone like Coucke (it was over the top), I think they made the wrong conclusion out of it. Not every big sponsor is like him, most of them are silent and don't take all the attention. Definitely not from a team that's been known as the Lotto team for 40 years. If the Lottery just accepted being the owner, but second sponsor this team would've been called Soudal-Lotto or Lidl - Lotto (yes this was a possibility) and they would've had a 25M+ budget by now probably. And sure maybe outside of Belgium people would've started calling the team Soudal or Lidl after a while, in Belgium (where it matters for them) people would still call it Lotto just like they still call Soudal-QS Quick Step.

Anyways, I hope they still change their mentality or find a big sponsor dumb enough to spend a lot of money for being the 2nd name sponsor (Carrefour was about to do it last season, I don't know what went wrong), but right now I'm not really positive. They kinda got bailed out by their devo team and an insanely talented generation, and they it was great the way they were growing the team alongside them, but they've throwing away all the positive steps lately. Sad to see. I have a feeling they might think this development team style WT or top Pro Team is a good spot for them, but I don't think thats realistic at all cause in the end less Belgian talents will choose for their project (that's already happening). I think it's just a coping mechanism to make riders leaving sound better.

 

[Netserk]

I can imagine that it back in 2012 was more desirable to be just Lotto as they were much better than the third best Belgian team then. But with Alpecin now being the second best and Intermarché with as good a claim for third best, the competition is much fiercer for Belgian talents and sponsors.

 

[Berniece]

If the Lottery just accepted being the owner, but second sponsor this team would've been called Soudal-Lotto or Lidl - Lotto (yes this was a possibility) and they would've had a 25M+ budget by now probably. And sure maybe outside of Belgium people would've started calling the team Soudal or Lidl after a while, in Belgium (where it matters for them) people would still call it Lotto just like they still call Soudal-QS Quick Step.

That's the weird part because everyone in Belgium knows Lotto. I really wonder why they find that to be so important, and can't let it go. Not to mention they will always be connected to the team, since they have been sponsor for 40 years? Some people need to be stop being so vain.

 

[Samamba]

That's the weird part because everyone in Belgium knows Lotto. I really wonder why they find that to be so important, and can't let it go. Not to mention they will always be connected to the team, since they have been sponsor for 40 years? Some people need to be stop being so vain.

Mix of like I said the "bad" experience with Coucke, ego ("it's our team") and the fact that a main sponsor obviously wants to have some "power" and more than a seat at the table and what they want isn't always compatible with what Lotto wants (politically then). It's complicated. I would love to see them go in the direction FDJ went but yeah I don't count on it.

 

[pastronef]

Mix of like I said the "bad" experience with Coucke, ego ("it's our team") and the fact that a main sponsor obviously wants to have some "power" and more than a seat at the table and what they want isn't always compatible with what Lotto wants (politically then). It's complicated. I would love to see them go in the direction FDJ went but yeah I don't count on it.

what i also disliked was them ending the Ridley deal before its term and jump with Orbea

 

[Samamba]

what i also disliked was them ending the Ridley deal before its term and jump with Orbea

Contract with Ridley was just awfully bad. Ridley completely finessed Lotto there (used Covid as a way to pay less while bike manufacturers were never hit by covid). Orbea was needed for the money, big difference. Also Ridley wasn't developing properly, they woke after Lotto dropped them. Good for UNO X.

 

[Samamba]

Some positive team news from the infirmerie mid horrible result after horrible result (let's just pretend they didn't participate in any races the last week).

Berckmoes' severe concussion seems to be in the past, he will be training at 100% again from tomorrow onwards.
Orins is finally riding (properly) again. Not race ready yet but there's some light at the end of the tunnel.
Slock also back riding outside, but he needs to build up very slowly.
Also Taminiaux has been training fully again for some time already, he should be racing soon again.