"I have an attractive team with a good image, a team that generates visibility" - Lotto Dstny boss not afraid of potentially losing co-sponsor Dstny

It is still not clear whether Dstny will remain as co-sponsor of Lotto Dstny next year or another company takes up their spot in the Belgian team's name. However, Stéphane Heulot, CEO of the UCI ProTeam, is not worried about the team's future.

Heulot does not want to get ahead of himself yet. "I am not going to comment on rumors and the questions they ask about us can be asked about many teams," Het Nieuwsblad quotes. "We are indeed in a situation where we are negotiating with sponsors and with Dstny in particular. Things are moving forward. Of course we want it to go faster, but it takes time."

According to Heulot, the sponsorship agreement with Dstny is not yet a closed chapter. Both parties sat around the table last Friday to discuss the future. "I evaluate our conversation as cordial, enlightening and constructive. At Dstny, Daan is not only accountable to himself. He has a board of directors, investors who are watching. He also has international ambitions, because Dstny's market is not limited to Belgium. I will soon review the content of our conversation with our Board of Directors so that I can provide answers to his questions. But most of all I remember that he didn't slam the door."

"It would indeed be better to know now how much budget I have in my pocket for next year. But that's the way it is, we just keep doing our job. The riders on their bikes, us behind our desk. Our goal remains to further develop the team. Financially, I also aim for a higher budget so that we can continue working comfortably and not have to constantly wonder how we will pay the bills."

"But we must be patient," Heulot preaches. "Our first priority was to sign the three leaders – Arnaud De Lie , Maxim Van Gils and Lennert Van Eetvelt – for a longer period of time and we succeeded in doing so. That is our wealth today, we no longer have that concern. I have an attractive team with a good image, a team that generates visibility. I already have about twenty riders under contract for next season. So I'm certainly not going to stress."

"Of course I wish it was Christmas and there were lots of presents under the tree. But that's not how it is. It is up to me to ensure that the team continues to perform as it is doing. I ask my riders to focus on sportiness and to have confidence. There is no reason to panic. We remain calm, feet on the ground, without losing sight of reality," Heulot is not worried.