My name is Elin - A pro cycling lover's reflections

Omega Pharma and Lotto parts way

Category: Cycling

Philippe GilbertOmega Pharma has decided to end its sponsorship with Omega Pharma-Lotto after a seven-year partnership in the end of the year. The sponsor Lotto will continue until at least 2015. The Belgian lottery has sponsored the team since 1985.

"Lotto remains committed to the peloton to allow a high-level team back into service in 2012. We have worked constructively with Omega Pharma for many years and I thank them for that. In 2011, we have peaked, with a fantastic start to the season and excellent prospects for the Tour de France," said National Lottery Marketing Director, Mark Frederix.

It is of course a little problematic. The team may lose its star rider Philippe Gilbert to Astana, but the BMC team has also showed that they are interested in the rider.

The team will surely find a new Belgian star if that happens.

But what will happen to Omega Pharma now? Will they continue to sponsor cycling? Rumours have mentioned that the company may start sponsoring the Quick Step team, something that the team manager Patrick Lefevere denies.

"Quick Step Cycling Team has had nothing to do with what's going on right now between Omega Pharma and Lotto, and there's absolutely no basis to the rumour going around about a partnership between Quick Step Cycling Team and the Omega Pharma company for next season," he said via statement.

The Lotto team may be co-sponsored by Belgacom and Adecco, or perhaps another company.

"There are several potential candidates with whom we are considering the possibility of a structural and lasting partnership that is consistent with our vision and provides sufficient prospects for retaining the best Belgian riders in a Belgian team and to develop young talent in professional supervision," National Lottery Marketing Director, Mark Frederix said. "The past has taught us that change of partner has been synonymous with each new start, opening new perspectives.

"But we'll first focus on the current program and the ensiling of sporting success after the Walloon classics, in the Giro, the Tour de France and during the late season."
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