Lotto-Intermarché loses Head of Performance days before Tour de France

The Belgian WorldTour squad Lotto-Intermarché will be without a key member of their management just days before the Tour de France after announcing that Aike Visbeek, their Head of Performance, has quit the team, effective immediately. Visbeek, 49, had been with the Circus-Wanty-Gobert squad since 2020, playing a crucial role even after the team merged with Lotto when Intermarché became a sponsor at the end of the previous season.

Before his departure, Visbeek was instrumental in the team's significant achievements, particularly with rider Biniam Girmay, who secured multiple stage wins at the 2024 Tour and the Giro d'Italia, in addition to winning Gent-Wevelgem on home soil. Visbeek previously worked as a sports director at Sunweb for seven years.

While managerial changes are not uncommon in cycling's WorldTour, Visbeek's resignation just ahead of the major stage racing event raises eyebrows. In a statement on the team's social media channels, Visbeek expressed that leaving was "not an easy decision" but reflected pride in their collective accomplishments. He thanked team manager Jean-François Bourlart and others in the organization for their trust and collaboration over the years, expressing confidence in the team's future success.

Team manager Bourlart highlighted Visbeek’s significant contributions to the team's growth, emphasizing the solid foundation built during his tenure. He recounted memorable moments, including the Gent-Wevelgem victory and successes in the Tour de France, expressing gratitude for Visbeek's work.

With Visbeek's future currently uncertain, Lotto-Intermarché now looks ahead to the Tour. The team is primarily focused on securing stage wins with sprinter Arnaud De Lie but will also seek breakaway victories from riders including Lennert Van Eetvelt, Baptiste Veistroffer, and 2026 Eschborn-Frankfurt winner Georg Zimmerman.