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'Mismanagement, bullying and intimidation' - Deep problems emerge within cycling's new top talent factory
CyclingSaturday, 12 October 2024 at 09:22
Problems continue to emerge within Lotto Dstny and at this point it is very clear that these are not just rumours. A report citing several anonymous sources within the Belgian team show a pattern of issues within the Belgian team that despite having great performances and developing talents, is at risk of crumbling under non-ideal management.
This is the result of an investigation conducted by Wielerflits into the structure of the Belgian team, which connects topics that have been rumoured for the past few months. Financially speaking the team is in trouble, though not mostly the management's fault but instead the title sponsor Dstny has not yet payed the entire portion of the budget for the season which led to cancellation of an altitude training camp ahead of the Vuelta a España and several logistical problems are emerging due to the financial strain on the squad which seems very evident.
The Dutch news outlet also brought forward the public criticism of team manager Stéphane Heulot to Caleb Ewan last year which led to the departure of the Australian sprinter. The 2023 Tour de France saw Ewan struggle with form and abandon after days of difficulties in the mountains. Heulot sharply said that "you have absolutely no respect for your teammates" after the 'Pocket Rocket' abandoned the race after catching up with teammates that had waited for him.
Ewan himself said that "the team has made it clear that they would prefer me to leave" which is a very clear indicator of poor relations with the former leader. Heulot himself admitted that he handled the situation poorly but the damage was done: "I said things about Caleb that I meant, but maybe I should have handled that internally". Arnaud De Lie became the new team leader, a bright talent developed in the team, as are many others emerging within the ranks of the ProTeam.
Currently, racing-wise the team is seeing it's brightest future in years. Lennert van Eetvelt has won the UAE Tour and performed tremendously in other mountainous races; Maxim van Gils broke through and proved to be an excellent and consistent classic rider; Alec Segaert almost won the Renewi Tour at only 21 years of age; whilst the team is currently having one of the best climbing talents in the world Jarno Widar locked in for future years - he is currently 18 years old and in the under-23 team.
Every single one of these riders were developed in the team's youth ranks and the team is virtually confirmed to rise back to World Tour level in 2016. But in order to keep all this talent and maintain the team's strong flow of results and motivation, it will be necessary to get the structure and logistics in place, otherwise we may see a mass departure as soon as next winter.
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- Thanks Dadmobk22-12-2024
- Hard to believe with the advancment of modern medicine he can not find a cause for this.frieders321-12-2024
- You continue to platform these two cheats. With that in mind I can no longer use your site. I know my leaving means little, but, sometimes you have to take a stand. See ya!DJ21-12-2024
- Look at what Froome’s won since his last TdF, stop denying there is still more than possible one outcome to the future.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Bruyneel understands nothing about clean competition.Sweep21-12-2024
- Exactly. Remco won 3 WT races/stages last year compared to Pogocar's 19. Remco's single stage win in last years TdF earned him a meager 12 seconds over Pogocar who shellac'd him by 9 minutes in GC.Sweep21-12-2024
- Fortunately and as you point out, more than one strategy is possible and worth trying and I’m sure all concerned riders are well informed and counselled on this subject and don’t need such basic personal advice through media from an outsider.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- The main SPOTY award is "decided" by public vote but the BBC "expert panel" decide who you can choose from, that choice has an equal split of genders and is focussed on the sports BBC show and a disabled athlete. Oh yea the ubiquitous "Pub Games" candidate there too, Darts and Snooker are not sports. The other awards are decided by the "Expert Panel" again it's about the sports BBC show, cycling has had it. Cav got his for his years and achievements in the sport, not just that 35th TDF win. Unless the BBC get access to Pro Cycling it will never feature "adequately" on SPOTYslappers6621-12-2024
- Ahhh..... you have to understand the "strange" diversity concepts of the BBCslappers6621-12-2024
- Avoiding him is a good strategy, you get more wins and then you can compete in the TDF relatively relaxed. Pit yourself against Pogi and not only there will be no wins, it will be considerable mental setbackabstractengineer21-12-2024