Belgian team closes its doors and accuses sponsor of "wanting to take over everything we've built"
Cycling
After 15 years in the professional peloton, Wagner Bazin WB will cease to exist in 2026. The historic Belgian (pro-)continental team, which began as Wallonie-Bruxelles and went through several identities over the last decade, is coming to an end amid internal disagreements, sporting frustration and a breakdown in the relationship with its main sponsor, Philippe Wagner.
The news was confirmed by Christophe Brandt, the team's manager. Brandt, who managed the structure since 2014, has followed its evolution through multiple names - Veranclassic Aqua Protect, Bingoal Pauwels Sauzen WB and, finally, Wagner Bazin WB.
"It wasn't my choice. But after so much dissatisfaction and friction with the sponsor Wagner, I no longer see any possibility of continuing," he told La Dernière Heure.
The year 2025 was particularly difficult. The team finished only 33rd in the UCI ranking of ProTeam teams, ahead of modest structures like Flanders-Baloise and Novo Nordisk, and 69th in the overall UCI points ranking.
"We had good cyclists with the potential to become solid professionals, but it was difficult to get immediate results. Some weren't given all the means they needed to reach their best level," Brandt lamented.
"Mr. Wagner's ego is bruised"
According to Brandt, the tension with sponsor Philippe Wagner, owner of the charcuterie brand that gave the team its name, worsened as results failed to appear.
"I think his ego was hurt," said Brandt. "In order to win again, he wanted to force us to take part in smaller races, but we already had commitments in other events that guaranteed visibility for our partners. This led to conflicts of schedules and priorities."
Despite the difficulties, Brandt's project had managed to train cyclists who are now part of the World Tour, such as Laurenz Rex, Alex Kirsch, Lionel Taminiaux, Stanislaw Aniolkowski, Matteo Malucelli and Matthijs Paasschens.
The break: "Wagner built a team behind my back"
The breaking point came when Brandt discovered that Philippe Wagner was negotiating directly with cyclists and team staff in preparation for the creation of a new structure.
"There was less and less communication between us... until, in June, I learned that Wagner was building a team behind my back," Brandt revealed. "He even contacted cyclists who had contracts with us to join his new project."
For Brandt, the sponsor's behavior went beyond the limits of sporting and business ethics. "I have the impression that Philippe Wagner wanted to take advantage of everything we've built up in ten years in order to appropriate it. Our know-how, our staff, our network. But then it would have been better if he had bought the team. It would have been clearer than pretending they were building a new project."
The end of an era for Walloon cycling
With the official end of the structure and the non-renewal of the UCI license for 2026, one of the most emblematic teams in Belgian cycling outside the World Tour also disappears.
Wallonie-Bruxelles and its successors were never a financial powerhouse, but they played an essential role in developing young talent in the Walloon region and served as a platform for advancement for countless professionals.
"It's sad to see something that was built with so much dedication come to an end. Our ambition has always been to train and launch cyclists, and we've succeeded in that," Brandt concluded.
Thus closes an important chapter in Belgian cycling, leaving a void and a bittersweet feeling among those who saw WB as a symbol of perseverance, regionalism and genuine passion for cycling.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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