Algemeen Lotto-Intermarché launches 2026 season with ambition and new energy
Access roads leading to the Service Course in Temse were lined with barriers, the mixed and feed zones clearly marked, and the stage set to present all the riders: Lotto-Intermarché is ready to race, that much is clear. Yesterday in Temse, together with the press, partners and staff, the team looked ahead to the upcoming season. “Everything that’s behind us was nice, but now we’re starting again with a clean slate,” says Jarno Widar. The young talent of Lotto-Intermarché begins his season in Portugal with the Figueira Classic and the Volta ao Algarve. He then builds up via the Basque Country towards the Ardennes classics. The Vuelta a España will be his first Grand Tour, with San Sebastián and Burgos serving as preparation. “People around me expect a lot, but I try to shut that out. I used to struggle with that, but now I’m much better at simply focusing on myself. I have goals in mind, but I don’t want to say them out loud. Above all, I want to become the best version of myself this season, just do my best, and avoid crashes.”
No risks
Arnaud De Lie also looked ahead in Temse. He prepared for his season in Portugal over the past few weeks, although things did not go entirely smoothly. De Lie injured his ankle after a misstep on the stairs and was forced to stay off the bike for a week. “That’s not the perfect preparation I had in mind,” he explains. “But it’s getting better all the time. Last week I spent 17 hours on the bike. Training sessions of three to four hours are going well. It’s under control and everything is being closely monitored by the team and my coach.”
For De Lie, the Clásica de Almería and the Volta ao Algarve are scheduled as his season openers. “Although I’ll only race for sure once that ankle feels completely right. I don’t want to jeopardize my classics by starting too early. I’m not willing to take that risk.” His spring classics campaign includes Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, Tirreno–Adriatico, GP de Denain, Gent–Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix. Via Copenhagen, the Tour de Suisse and the Belgian Championships, he heads toward the Tour de France. “The autumn will again be important as well, with the World Championships in Canada. I’ve only ridden one World Championship in my career so far. The course is extremely tough, although I always perform well in Canada. We’ll see, that’s still a long way off.”
Reset
The third leader of Lotto-Intermarché, Lennert Van Eetvelt, is mainly hoping to erase his unlucky 2025 season. That could already happen next week at the Tour Down Under. “I’m happy to be able to start the season early,” says Van Eetvelt. “It’s been a very long time since I last raced. After the Tour last season, I didn’t get to race anymore (Van Eetvelt crashed at the Belgian Championships, started the Tour, and then crashed again, ed.). Just being healthy on the start line is already a big thing. Since September, I’ve had a very good training period, it felt like a reset. I had time to try different training methods, to train a bit more off the bike, to ride without expectations. I think it also helped me mentally.”
Next season, Van Eetvelt is set for the Giro–Tour double. “I’m not focusing on the general classification, but above all I want to show myself. It’s not an easy combination, but I do believe it’s possible.” The fact that Jarno Widar is another rider in the pro team focusing on stage races is seen as an advantage by Van Eetvelt: “Jarno and I get along well. We don’t race many events together, and I really wouldn’t mind if there were more. We have the same mentality. I see him a bit as a younger version of myself. He’s very eager, and together that can only make us better.”
Attractive racing
Sporting manager Kurt Van de Wouwer already looks on with great pride at the team that has been built over the past weeks from Intermarché-Wanty and Lotto Cycling Team. “I believe we’ve grown in depth. The new team has three clear leaders in Lennert Van Eetvelt, Arnaud De Lie and Jarno Widar, but there are also many strong riders around them. I’m thinking of Jenno Berckmoes, Georg Zimmermann, Huub Artz, Steffen De Schuyteneer… That can help spread the pressure. We must not forget that De Lie and Van Eetvelt did not have smooth seasons last year- although Arnaud still ended up winning seven races. The biggest mistake would be to put pressure on Arnaud for the spring. Of course, we would rather not have had that ankle issue, but he will be at the right level in time. We want Jarno Widar to get a taste of the Vuelta, and he can also learn a lot in the Ardennes classics. This will be a season to gain experience. If good results come with that, all the better. When will 2026 be a successful season for Lotto-Intermarché? If we show ourselves. Winning a semi-classic, hopefully. And competing for stage wins in a Grand Tour, gladly. But above all, racing attractively: that’s what I want to see from all our riders this coming spring.”
Finally, Lotto-Intermarché also presented its sports directors, not only for the men’s team but also for the women’s team- which will become a ProTeam this season- and for the development team Lotto–Groupe Wanty. The group of sports directors leading Lotto-Intermarché includes several familiar faces who will remain active within the team in 2026. Mario Aerts, Pieter Vanspeybroeck, Wesley Van Speybroeck, Steven De Neef and Bart Wellens will continue their collaboration with Lotto-Intermarché. They will be joined by Maxime Bouet, Adrien Petit and Zico Waeytens. With the women’s team, Grace Verbeke remains sports director, assisted by Dirk Aernouts and Zico Waeytens. The development team will be led by Wesley Van Speybroeck and Alfdan De Decker.
Pictures: Brecht Steenhouwer & Cyclingmedia
