“I have never in my life come up against such an ego" - Dstny CEO details explosive fallout with Lotto

In 2025, Lotto Dstny will be no more as Dstny pull back their sponsorship of the team. Although the team itself continues as just Lotto, the relationship between the team and their title sponsors have not been well for some time according to Dstny CEO, Daan De Wever.

“I really wanted to bring Jurgen Foré (who has since been announced as Patrick Lefevere's replacement at Soudal - Quick-Step ed.) to the team,” De Wever begins his story in conversation with Het Laatste Nieuws, criticising the decision makers at the team. “That preference was passed over, because they did not want my personal preference to become the final choice for the team.”

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According to De Wever, the relationship was tarnished by the power games attempted by the team's the then CEO Jannie Haeck. “I have never in my life come up against such an ego, that is the sad reality," he explains disappointingly. "Jurgen had already drawn up a policy plan and was the obvious candidate. Until we were bypassed by the Board of Directors.”

Ultimately, it even led De Wever to regret his choice to bring Dstny to the pro peloton in support of the Lotto team. “I have already kicked myself a few times in that regard. If I had met Philip Roodhooft then, his team might have been called Alpecin-Dstny, and we would still be their sponsor, I am sure of that,” the Dstny CEO laments in conclusion. 

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