With a possible merger of Lotto and Intermarché-Wanty still on the cards for 2026, Lotto CEO Stéphane Heulot will be leaving the Belgian squad, with his departure set to come on September 30.
The Frenchman has been in the position at the team since 2023, but a number of staff and riders across both teams will be forced to move on should the merger of the two teams be finalised over the winter.
Talks concerning a merger got underway in the summer, with rumours intensifying during the Tour de France. A merged team will likely retain Lotto’s ownership structure and all-but-confirmed WorldTour licence, while Intermarché-Wanty’s Jean-François Bourlart is set to take on the new leadership role as Heulot departs.
“I’m the happiest man, but unhappy for my staff and riders because I loved this team and that’s still the case. I’m happy with what I’ve experienced because, in my opinion, I’ve succeeded in my mission – we’ve brought the team back to the WorldTour.”
Heulot and Lotto have had to navigate several difficulties during their time in the second division, notably Arnaud De Lie’s well-publicised struggle with illness, Caleb Ewan’s controversial departure, and the loss of key riders – including Victor Campenaerts, Maxim Van Gils, and Florian Veermersch – to richer teams.
“There was still a lot to do, but I have the feeling that people questioned themselves, that they exploited their area of expertise because I gave them this…
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