"It was not the technological aspect that was important in the choice" - Ridley CEO angry about Lotto Dstny's abrupt termination of bike sponsorship
Cycling
The CEO of Belgian bike brand Ridley has issued a statement accusing Lotto Dstny of reputational damage after the team tosses the 12-year-long parternship into bin. The reason? Officially dissatisfication with the quality of their products, but even more the financial side seems to play major role.
The ProTeam were set to continue aboard Ridley bikes for another two years, in a deal signed in 2021 that was set to last until the end of the 2025 season. However, Het Laatse Nieuws reported earlier this week that the team is plotting to switch to Orbea.
"It is remarkable when you see how many races Arnaud De Lie wins on our new 'Falcn' and when you read that Alec Segaert states on September 16, 2022, following the signing of a professional contract, that the new Ridley time trial bike has certainly played a role in his decision!" Ridley CEO Jochim Aerts points out.
"A good and attentive reader understands that there is more to it. Just before the termination of the current agreement with Ridley, Lotto-Dstny announces the opening and extension of the agreement with Arnaud De Lie. This obviously required a budget, more budget than anticipated. And that is where the shoe is pinched," Aerts explains.
"It should be clear that it was not the technological aspect that was important in the choice, but the financial contribution of the new partner. I deeply regret that for financial reasons a long-standing and successful cooperation is being unilaterally terminated. On the part of the Lotto-Dstny Management, people forget what investments we made again this year so that the riders could also compete at the highest level next year on more than competitive material!"
"This disloyalty and reputational damage and the lost investments will have to be compensated. It is a pity that I also have to end with a financial aspect, but as I said, the future of my company and its employees are sacred to me. Ridley is therefore looking forward to the proposals that the Management and/or the Board of Directors of Lotto-Dstny will come up with to repair the damage suffered," he concludes.
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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