"Please stop speculating on bullsh*t news" - Lotto Dstny boss outraged over rumours of van Gils and Widar's possible departure

Lotto Dstny are in the process of developing countless incredible Belgian talents but this amount of quality riders sees plenty teams also on the hunt for their riders. Inclusively, it was reported this week that both Jarno Widar and Maxim van Gils had teams interested in buying out their contract. Team manager Stéphane Heulot was rather angry as this reporting.

Asked by journalist Daniel Benson, Heulot talked about the case of Maxim van Gils who has been performing wonderfully this year and whom Het Laatste Nieuws said that both Movistar and Astana are looking to buy out his contract. "He has a contract until the end of 2026. Please take a look at the UCI rules to know what happens to the agent, the rider and the team who wants to break a contract without the team's agreement. After that, please stop speculating on bullshit "news". Thank you".

Heulot's reaction is understandable taking into consideration that like van Gils, many other riders have been developed within the team's youth and now elite ranks, and the prospect of leaving before the end of their contract would be difficult on the Belgian team. However in literal terms, Cian Uijtdebroeks and Primoz Roglic last year both ended their contracts early to join a different team and this is becoming less of an obstacle.

On the alleged search for a second sponsor due to alleged economic problems, he also wanted to be very clear: "Do you know what the national lottery represents (he refers to main sponsor Lotto, ed.)? It is not an obligation to have a middle name and I reconfirm that we have no budget problems as several media outlets are thinking (without verifying their reports) and our future is bright. End of story."

Whether that will end the rumours of possible transfers from within the talented Belgian riders that the team is developing is not known; as simultaneously there are teams with leftover budget now in the end of September and everyday the market becomes more and more empty.