"They left me no choice": Charles Liégeois CX team boss "forced" to become a DS at Lotto-Intermarché

The Lotto-Intermarché merger meant large structural changes for the two road cycling teams. However the cyclocross world wasn't spared of large changes either, as both teams have run their own cyclocross teams, of which neither could further exist separately. Therefore Lotto's Deschacht-Hens cyclocross team and Intermarché-Wanty's Charles Liégeois Roastery CX team have become Charles Liégeois – Deschacht with the turn of new calendar year.

The manager of the newly created team will be Deschacht's Bart Verschueren, leaving Charles Liégeois' former manager out of the picture. Well, not entirely. Because Bart Wellens remains within the Lotto-Intermarché structure, moving over to the road team as full-time sports director, following part-time stints already in 2025, including a Giro d'Italia debut.

"They left me no choice," Wellens told Het Nieuwsblad. "Initially, it was said the cyclo-cross team would continue until the end of the cyclo-cross season, but then the discussions accelerated, and it was decided to merge the cyclo-cross teams as well, effective January 1st. Which I understand. But then I also had to read that there was no longer a place for me."

It's going to be a completely different experience for Wellens, who will certainly miss his time by the raceside, moving into the teamcar for the season ahead.

"For the past four months, I've been working with this cyclo-cross team seven days a week," Wellens said. Specifically, he is proud of his work with young talent, having built a pathway to the top for Julie Brouwers and Keije Solen in their respective categories:

"I did everything I could to give my riders the best of the best. I brought Julie Brouwers to the level she's currently riding, and I know she can do even better. I hope the new team management will spend as many hours on their moped or give as much training in the cyclocross field as I did."

The two young riders can still lean back on their former coach and manager though. "I'm not completely abandoning Julie and Keije either, right in the middle of the season. I promised them that if they need me during the week, for example, to ride behind their moped, I'll be there for them."

The former cyclo-cross world champion said realising that the Superprestige in Diegem on Tuesday was his last foray into the discipline was "a bitter pill to swallow".

"But every cloud has a silver lining. I don't normally see my children in January, but this time I've already booked a few dates for them. And I'll definitely keep following it. I have to, since I'll continue fulfilling my role as Cyclo-cross Professor - from the comfort of my own home, of course, or on-site, like in Benidorm, where I'll be present as an analyst for Play Sports."

"Cyclo-cross will always be in my heart. The only thing I won't miss is having to fight for an extra square meter to pitch your tent at 7:30 in the morning in the riders' parking lot. And since I'm not expected in Baal [the GP Sven Nys on January 1], I don't have to worry about a hangover this time. Although I'm sure it won't be too bad. Board games with the kids, a drink, and not going to bed too late."