Lotto Soudal on relegation: "A challenge, but we can handle it"

In its announcement about the teams registered for 2023, UCI did not list Lotto Soudal (to be named Lotto Dstny in 2023) under WorldTeam. After failing to score enough points for the top 18 rankings, the Belgian team was officially relegated to ProTeam.

Responding to their new status Chief Business Officer Yana Seel said, "A challenge, but we can handle it.” He continues, "Together with our main sponsors, the National Lottery and Dstny, we have been working hard in recent months. The step to the ProTour presented us with a budgetary challenge, but we can handle it."

He further added, "The commitment and support of our main sponsors illustrate how interesting our team will be commercially also in 2023. Just last week, we were able to announce the arrival of Efficy as one of our new partners. Also, with the ProTour logo on our jersey, we offer our partners visibility on the very highest international stage of cycling."

The team, however, will still be invited to all major races, including the Grand Tours. Sports manager Kurt Van de Wouwer is confident in the abilities of his team to regain its WorldTeam status. "Our core of 26 riders consists of a good mix of young talent and riders who have proven themselves at the very highest level for many years. I am confident that next season they will compete for victory on all fronts on behalf of Lotto Dstny," concluded Van de Wouwer.