Another victim of the merger between Lotto and Intermarché: 26-year-old Belgian decides to retire

The merger between Lotto Dstny and Intermarché–Wanty has claimed another victim. After several riders were already forced to search for a new team, there was also no room left for Tom Paquot within the project. The 26-year-old Belgian hoped for a second chance, but after months of searching, he has made the hard decision to end his career.

Paquot was an all-rounder with a big engine and knew his role well at Intermarché–Wanty. As a domestique he was of great value to the team, riding the Vuelta a España and four Monuments. But after the Lotto–Intermarché merger, there was no longer a place for him. That pushed him to search for opportunities at ProTeam level.

Earlier this year, Paquot admitted that a simple look at his race results didn’t reflect his true impact. He explained: “If you look only at my results and rankings, you won't see much. But my role is much broader than that. And honestly, I thought the work done behind the scenes would be rewarded more. With my experience from the past three years in the WorldTour, I believed I deserved the chance to show who the real Tom Paquot is.”

Despite months of effort, no opportunity emerged. In the end, the decision was almost taken out of his hands: his professional career comes to an end. After six years as a pro, he must stop. In his farewell message on Instagram, he reflected: “The child I once was had no idea about the path he would take — the kilometres, the pain, the joy, and all the moments that would shape him.”

Paquot wrote that he was never a top talent or a natural champion. “But I had an iron will and I never gave up. Through hard work and patience. Every time I fell, it taught me not to give up. Thank you to everyone who always stood by me, who celebrated my successes, and especially to the people who were there when I was down.”

He leaves the sport without regret. “I travelled the world and met amazing people. I discovered new cultures and lived every moment to the fullest.” Next year, he will no longer pin on a race number: “Even though it breaks my heart, I must turn the page. My story as a professional cyclist ends here, in a world that sometimes forgets that athletes are also human. But the bike will never be far from my life.”

After three seasons at WorldTour level, Paquot will no longer be part of the peloton. He reflected on his career: “I achieved zero professional victories, but I gained something far greater in return: a proud family and the happiness of my teammates.” Another rider affected by the merger, Danish climber Jonas Gregaard, has also retired - at age 29.