The article in Belgian press today makes it sound like de Lie is running the team now
Yeah they're kind of framing a few things to make it seems like De Lie is a Greek God and literally decides everything. Obviously he has a lot to say, like every leader in every team. Pretty normal he has his "guys" in the team, but...
- Taminiaux, while being a friend of De Lie, did not come to just help De Lie, just look at the races both are riding. The races they do together are very limited, if there are any honestly. Taminiaux is definitely not at Lotto to be De Lie's leadout, he won't even be at the Tour. Taminiaux is at Lotto to give them more opportunities to get points in smaller races, specifically in May, June, August and September.
- The extensions of Beullens, Van Moer and De Buyst? Oh come on, like the team wouldn't be wanting them to stay if De Lie wasn't as good as he is. They're simply good riders. Grignard is probably the only one who's life has been made significantly easier thanks to De Lie.
- the bikefitter is Gaetan Bille btw, ex Lotto rider, it's not like he's a nobody. There has been like 10 new news in the Lotto staff this season, it's not like they are all coming from De Lie
- Naesen was on the shortlist of Lotto, so was Vanmarcke. De Lie and Lotto wanted reinforcement with experience, and those were simply the 2 Belgian guys that fitted the profile. It wasn't rocket science.