Lotto–Intermarché merger officially submitted to UCI amid uncertainty over future

In an official statement, the team confirmed the submission and underlined the intent behind the project. “The intention to merge that was announced three months ago has finally been turned into a license application,” the statement read. It added that Captains of Cycling, license holder of the Lotto Cycling Team, has officially submitted its file to the UCI for the joint Lotto–Intermarché project, aiming to rejoin the WorldTour in 2026. The UCI will now review the application.

According to Belgian newspaper HLN, the application was submitted just before the deadline, although the merger still comes with many loose ends. Financial hurdles remain, with Intermarché Wanty reportedly facing a deficit of around 2.5 million euros. That shortfall is expected to be covered partly through the sale of vehicles, team buses and bikes, as well as recent staff cuts affecting both teams.

While financial difficulties have forced both teams to cut costs and restructure, HLN reports that a bank guarantee and the necessary sponsorship contracts have been secured to meet UCI requirements. Questions remain, however, about the team’s internal organisation and logistics, including the service course in Temse, Orbea as bike supplier, and the technical management setup with Jean-François Bourlart as CEO, Kurt Van de Wouwer as sporting manager and Aike Visbeek as performance manager.

Another issue is the composition of the rider roster. The merged team is expected to include 17 riders from the Lotto side and 14 from Intermarché, bringing the combined total to 31, one more than the UCI limit. According to HLN, solutions still need to be found for several riders who are not part of the final structure. From the Lotto camp, Reuben Thompson, Lorenz Van de Wynkele and Baptiste Veistroffer are yet to know their fate, while Kamiel Bonneu, Dries De Pooter and Dion Smith face a similar situation at Intermarché. It is considered likely that some of these contracts will need to be bought out.

The future of Biniam Girmay remains uncertain, although the merged team is eager to keep him on board. The Eritrean star is believed to have received an offer from Israel Premier Tech.

With the license file now under review by the UCI, the teams are awaiting confirmation of their WorldTour status for 2026. The governing body is expected to announce its decision on Saturday, determining whether Lotto Intermarché’s late but ambitious merger can go through.