OFFICIAL: Lotto-Intermarché announce transfer of UAE rider as he leaves Pogacar's team after eight seasons and 19 victories

Cycling
Thursday, 27 August 2026 at 13:57
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Sebastián Molano will change teams after eight seasons and 19 victories with UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The 31-year-old Colombian sprinter will ride for Lotto-Intermarché from 2027 after signing a two-year deal with the Belgian outfit.
Molano closes a long chapter with the Emirati team, for whom he has raced since 2019. He now embraces a change of scene with a clear goal: to reclaim his status as an out-and-out sprinter and regain chances to chase his own wins.
“After eight years in the same environment, I think this move will do me a lot of good,” the Colombian explains. “I felt it was time for a change, and I’m convinced a new environment will motivate me even more. Because even after all these years in the peloton, I’m still the same: driven to get results.”
Lotto-Intermarché bring in a rider with a deep résumé and experience in the biggest races. In recent seasons, Molano has shown he can prevail in fast finishes and compete at the highest level.
Sebastián Molano at the Tour Down Under 2026. Photo: Sirotti
Juan Sebastián Molano, one of the peloton’s leading sprinters

A new landscape for the Colombian

His victories include Brugge-De Panne, Grand Prix de Denain, and multiple stage wins at both the Vuelta a España and the UAE Tour. The Colombian also arrives after winning Brugge-De Panne last season.
His new team aim to revive exactly that version of the rider. At Lotto-Intermarché he will have greater freedom to seek his own opportunities and resume the role of lead sprinter.
“Here I’ll be a pure sprinter again, and I can’t wait,” Molano says.
The move also means discovering a new cycling culture after spending virtually his entire career in the same setup. Molano says he has always felt a special bond with Belgian cycling and is especially drawn to racing some of its marquee events.
“I still remember when my current teammate, Tim Wellens, raced in Lotto colours. As a kid, André Greipel was one of my big idols. I love Lotto-Intermarché and I’m very happy to wear that jersey soon,” he explains.
The Colombian also hopes to enjoy races like Brugge-De Panne or Nokere, where the atmosphere around the event carries real weight.
“I’m also very curious to experience what it’s like to race for a Belgian team. Belgians are passionate about cycling (laughs). Races like Brugge-De Panne, Nokere… where everyone gives everything, not only the riders but also the fans along the route… It seems incredible to me.”

The Tour de France, a motivation

Among the goals Molano sets for this new chapter is a challenge he has yet to tick off: starting the Tour de France. The Colombian has never ridden the French Grand Tour and hopes his move to Lotto-Intermarché can open that door.
“I also dream of the Tour de France, which I’ve never raced. It will be a great motivation for me. I want to give everything to be in my best shape throughout the season and be ready for the Tour,” he says.
Lotto-Intermarché believe the change can help Molano rediscover his core strengths. Jean-François Bourlart, the team’s general manager, highlights his speed and his savvy in decisive moments: “Sebastián is a rider who fits perfectly with what we want to add to our team. He has exceptional speed, but also the experience to position himself in key moments and finish off a race.”
“He has competed at the highest level in recent years and knows what it takes to win. With us, he’ll have the freedom to pursue his own chances again,” Bourlart adds.
Thus, Molano will begin a new phase in 2027 after eight years with UAE, on a two-year contract and with a much more defined role at Lotto-Intermarché. The aim will be to recover his best version and raise his arms again in a team committed to giving him the right conditions to do so.
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