Lotto and Intermarché-Wanty are exploring a merger
Belgian pro cycling teams Lotto and Intermarché-Wanty are reportedly exploring a merger, according to Sporza. The Belgian media outlet broke the news and, hours later, the team confirmed to Belga that "an agreement in principle has been reached to join forces next year."
The Lotto team, which has existed for 40 years, has had a rough go of it lately. The team was relegated out of the WorldTour after the 2022 season and lost longtime sponsor Soudal to its major rival, Patrick Lefevere's Quick-Step outfit, and then lost second-line sponsor Dstny after the 2024 season. But its fortunes have improved since, thanks largely to an influx of young talent like Lennert Van Eetvelt and Arnaud De Lie. Next year, promising U23 rider Jarno Widar is also set to join as the team will regain its WorldTour status.
Intermarché, meanwhile, has also vacillated between success and challenges. The team's star rider, Biniam Girmay, won three stages and the green jersey at the 2024 Tour de France. But it runs on one of the smallest budgets in the WorldTour and reportedly needed a €2 million loan in 2023 to meet its overhead. A merger would pose a number of questions, not least around riders, as the teams between them currently employ 25 riders more than the allowed maximum roster. [Sporza]
