LOTTO SOUDAL forced to take measures to cope with difficult circumstances.

The impact of Covid-19 has its consequences on the entire UCI WorldTeam Lotto Soudal. Cycling races are canceled or postponed, leaving 25 staff members unemployed. Riders and other staff members voluntarily waive part of their wages.

 
Not only is there great commitment, compassion and solidarity with all people affected by the disease, the Lotto Soudal cycling team is also supportive of the partners of the team who are now going through a difficult economic period. The team remains extremely active, but the most important thing, scoring by winning races, has become impossible.
 
Postponement of races also affects the majority of support staff. Mechanics, soigneurs, physiotherapists and bus drivers are forced to step back and become temporarily unemployed. For the moment, the employees will fall back on the system of temporary unemployment due to force majeure. Self-employed personnel, whose contract is temporarily suspended, will be able to benefit from bridging finance support measures. All these measures by the Belgian government make it possible for companies to reduce their personnel costs even without having to fire people. In less than a month, more than 1 million people have ended up in temporary unemployment in Belgium.
 
The 27 riders of the Lotto Soudal team, meanwhile, continue to train to be competition ready as soon as races are organized again. In solidarity with staff and sponsors, the riders, just like the entire management team and all administrative staff, have voluntarily decided to waive part of their wages, until the team races again. This decision was taken without discussion and with unanimity. It was clear to everyone that particular circumstances require particular team actions.