"The rider is portrayed as a money-grabber. I think that is totally wrong" - Belgian experts back up Maxim van Gils in Lotto Dstny contract controversy

Maxim van Gils is no longer a Lotto Dstny rider. The Belgian prospect has sensationally ripped up his contract with immediate effect and is now set to sign elsewhere for what is likely to be a significant pay-rise. According to Belgian cycling managers Yannick Prévost and Paul De Geyter however, it's too simplistic to say it's all about the money.

"I honestly don't think that's a recent phenomenon. If you look at the incidents in the last 10 years, there are very few," explains Prévost, the manager of notable riders such as Wout van Aert and Oliver Naesen among others in conversation with Sporza, as De Geyter agrees. "I myself have previously helped several riders transfer to another team before the end of their contract."

In fact, one of De Geyter's previous experiences to be noted is a very famous one in Belgian cycling. "I'm thinking of Tom Boonen at the end of 2002 (from US Postal to Quick Step)," he explains, also mentioning other examples. "Frank Vandenbroucke (in the 90s), the Colombian Mauricio Ardila in 2005 (from Lotto to Rabobank) and Gert Steegmans in 2009 (from Katjoesja to RadioShack). So it still happened."

"If someone from a smaller football team can make a transfer to a larger football team, everyone thinks that is a logical step in a footballer's career," continues De Geyter. "But when a rider from Lotto Dstny can go to a team with better support, that rider is portrayed as a money-grabber. I think that is totally wrong."

Speaking of football, could a similar system of big transfer fees being negotiated in order manufacture transfers come to pass? "That's not possible at the moment," says Prévost. "Because to set up a transfer system, you need to have teams with a lot of capital. There are some rich teams, but there are also a number of teams like Lotto Dstny that have to make sure every year that they don't end up in the red. A system of transfer fees is currently premature for cycling."