Lotto and Dstny split inevitable: "We quickly realized that they did not want to share power"
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Follow us on GoogleCo-sponsor Dstny will no longer be the title sponsor of the cycling team Lotto-Dstny starting next year, as reported by De Tijd on Saturday. There had already been doubts for some time about the continuation of Dstny, which meant that Stéphane Heulot's team had to be somewhat more frugal in negotiations for new contracts.
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Daan De Wever, CEO of Dstny, explains on behalf of his company, "The cooperation no longer aligns with the values and norms of the company. The relationship with the Lottery did not go well shortly after the start. We quickly realized that we were in a structure where the Lottery did not want to share power. In every decision - both sporting and policy-related - they wanted to have the final say. The culture, style, and collaboration were not what we had in mind," he stated in De Tijd.
Dstny contributed five to seven million euros in sponsorship money annually and saw riders like Arnaud De Lie, Maxim Van Gils, and Lennert Van Eetvelt break through. Victor Campenaerts recently won a Tour stage in the Lotto-Dstny jersey. "Especially our focus on new young talents, through the Lotto Dstny Development Team, is very close to my heart," said De Wever.
Dstny wants to generate more international visibility
There have been rumors for some time that Dstny might switch to another team. De Wever indicates that the commercial ceiling with Lotto-Dstny has now been reached. 'With a team that focuses on the Belgian market, we have gotten the most out of it. With Dstny, we want to generate much more international visibility. That is not currently possible with the Lotto team.'"
De Tijd also reconstructs how things have been going wrong between the sponsors Lotto and Dstny for quite some time, with the much-discussed Lotto CEO Jannie Haek playing a prominent role. For example, after an interview with the Dstny CEO, he reportedly threatened to withdraw part of the sponsorship money and has had a significant influence on important decisions.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026