Lotto boss explains Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico absence: "It is not an unwise choice to avoid overloading our riders at this point"

As the cycling season gains momentum with the first two major stage races of the year, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, one team is notably absent: Lotto. The Belgian ProTeam, which finished as the top ProTeam in 2024, declined its wildcard invitations to both races. Wielerflits spoke with Lotto's sporting manager, Kurt Van de Wouwer, to discuss the reasoning behind this decision.

This move aligns with a broader strategy the team has been implementing over the past year. In 2024, Lotto Dstny scaled back its WorldTour programme, opting to skip Tirreno-Adriatico while still competing in Paris-Nice. This year, the team has taken an even more drastic step, withdrawing from both races.

The Giro d’Italia and Critérium du Dauphiné are also among the high-profile events the team has decided to forgo.

“These are all very conscious choices," Van de Wouwer explained. "If we look at our team as a whole, it would not have been wise to ride the full WorldTour programme with just 25 riders. We have since added a 26th rider in Elia Viviani, but we still have six riders injured.

“Given that we have the luxury of selecting which WorldTour races we compete in, we should not hesitate to make strategic decisions.”

Van de Wouwer emphasised that the team is aware of its limitations, particularly in the climbing department.

"We know that we don't have a surplus, and we will need to strengthen ourselves across the board during the summer. First of all, it is clear that we don’t have enough climbers in the team. Modern one-week WorldTour races involve a significant amount of climbing, so we need to improve in that area."

The team is also prioritising the upcoming Flemish Classics and is keen to ensure that its riders are not overburdened ahead of the key races. That helps for a number of reasons, namely the riders will be avoiding any crashes in the bunch either in Italy or France this week.

“Considering what is still to come with the Flemish Classics, it is not an unwise choice to avoid overloading our riders at this point. We have a very young group.”

Two of the team’s rising stars, Arnaud De Lie and Lennert Van Eetvelt, were fully in agreement with the decision to skip Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico.

"Completely. It was precisely their vote that made the difference," Van de Wouwer confirmed. "Arnaud De Lie was not at all interested in Paris-Nice, and Lennert Van Eetvelt is focused on preparing for the Tour of Catalonia. That was perhaps the most important factor.”

The team manager acknowledged that by skipping these stage races, Lotto Dstny is passing up potential opportunities but believes the trade-off is worthwhile.

"If you don't participate, you can't win. But I don't know if we would have had many chances to win a stage there. This decision gives us better openings for what lies ahead. Are we increasing the pressure on the Classics by doing this?

“We let our riders work towards their main goals for the spring in the way that suits them best. You shouldn’t dwell on missed opportunities—that's not how we approach it."

Van Eetvelt, in particular, is focusing on Catalonia, and the team is confident in his progression.

"He has a clear goal with the Tour of Catalonia. We saw in Strade Bianche that he was in good shape. Last year, he just missed the top 10, but this time he was well inside it. We have to be satisfied with that. By Catalonia, he will be at his peak. I’ve seen that the field there is quite strong, but a good Lennert should not be afraid of that and will aim for a strong result in the general classification."

Arnaud De Lie endured a tough Opening Weekend, suffering crashes that affected his form. However, Lotto Dstny remains optimistic about his progress.

"He still lacks a few percent to be at his absolute best—that was our conclusion after the Opening Weekend. Of course, those two crashes in his preparation cost him something. But now he has the opportunity to train well in Spain, which would have been more difficult in a stage race. We will see if those extra percentages come. Via Nokere Koerse and Milan-San Remo, he will transition into the Flemish spring. Only then will we take stock—it’s far too early to do so now."

Beyond its established names, Lotto is also keeping a close eye on its emerging talents as they look to bolster their ranks for the future.

“At the moment, I am still really surprised by someone. That Steffen De Schuyteneer has talent and would prove himself was expected. But Aldo Tailleu winning the prologue in Rwanda—that was a pleasant surprise. Some riders still need time to develop. Jenno Berckmoes has been struggling but will start in Milan-San Remo, and we expect something from him.”