"Dstny's departure is not a cause for concern" - Belgian ProTeam Lotto Dstny looking for a new title sponsor to replace Dstny
Cycling
Lotto Dstny underwent a promising rejuvenation of its roster, with riders such as Arnaud de Lie, Maxim Van Gils or Lennert Van Eetvelt already looking to enter the top ranks of the cycling world. Meanwhile the Development team is currently brimming with very talented riders, lead by the super-talent Jarno Widar who is set to turn pro with Lotto in coming years.
Following a relegation to PRT category after the 2022 season, Lotto Dstny took the necessary steps to build a team with enough quality to return to WorldTour in the next cycle. Now half-way through the 2023-25 period, Lotto Dstny looks to be in a comfortable position to return to WT for 2026 season. Two years ago, Dstny joined the Lotto team with this exact objective. It then signed a two-year contract with an option for another 2 years.
And while Dstny made clear that they still have positive feelings about the project, the communication company didn't quite find the business opportunities they looked for. Apparently, Lotto never quite saw their co-sponsor as 'equal', treating them to a rather cold shoulder. Hence Dstny opted to step down as the team's sponsor.
"Dstny's departure is not a cause for concern," Karel Van Eetvelt (chairman of the Board of Directors of Lotto-Dstny) underlines at Sporza. "Several discussions are taking place to secure the future of our team. We are working hard."
Despite Belgium government's strict approach to any forms of gambling, state-backed Lotto remains strong as ever. For future years, the national lottery should remain the core of the Belgian team. "The National Lottery remains our most important partner. We are determined to build further on the solid foundations we now have."
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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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Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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