"I'm relieved": Lotto manager Stephane Heulot withdraws from his position

The news of Stéphane Heulot's departure from the Lotto team management has shaken the cycling world in recent days. He arrived at the team in winter 2022, just after the Belgian squad confirmed its relegation from the WorldTour.

In his first stint as director, Heulot managed to return the team to the elite of world cycling, with two outstanding seasons that gave Lotto a place back among the best in the peloton. However, in this third season, difficulties began to accumulate and the atmosphere within the team changed.

Although the team was never in danger of losing the category, the shortage of points was a constant during this last campaign. This deficit was mainly due to the physical and fitness problems of key riders, who failed to perform at the expected level.

Despite the complications, the squad was never really threatened by relegation, but financial difficulties were a constant factor that prevented Heulot from having the necessary resources to compete on an equal footing with other more powerful teams in terms of budget.

Lack of money has been one of Lotto's main burdens in recent years, and one of the factors that has conditioned its strategic decisions. In this context, the team lost some of its most valuable cyclists, which led the management to look for alternatives to strengthen the structure.

In particular, a merger with the Intermarché - Wanty team was being worked on, an option that Heulot did not welcome. According to some sources, the deal with the Belgian team was worked out behind Heulot's back, which seems to have been one of the main reasons for his departure.

In an interview with Le Télégramme, Heulot explained that as of September 30, he will begin a new stage in his life, with new projects in his homeland of Brittany. "I feel relieved," he commented in statements to Ouest-France.

"We no longer share the same vision to continue developing the project, so it is better to separate. It has been an intense three years, we have achieved excellent results and shared unforgettable moments, both in human and sporting terms," said the former French cyclist.

The news of his departure was made official in a statement issued by the team yesterday afternoon, while it is expected that in the coming weeks the guidelines to be followed by Lotto regarding its future will be clarified, especially after this unexpected departure of its director.