The Spanish brand now backs three UCI professional cycling teams, including one WorldTour squad.
Lotto Dstny will race with new bikes in the 2024 season following its switch from Ridley to Orbea. “Lotto Dstny has found a perfect match with Orbea, which promises improvements for our entire structure, and I am confident we can achieve great things together,” commented Team CEO Stéphane Heulot.
Orbea confirmed to VeloNews that it sponsors the entire Lotto Dstny roster, including men’s, women’s, and development squads. However, the brand declined to disclose the duration of the agreement. The Belgian team becomes Orbea’s second sponsored UCI Pro Men’s team, joining Euskaltel-Euskadi, both based in the Basque region of Spain. Currently, Orbea does not sponsor any men’s WorldTour teams, but it does back the Ceratizit WNT women’s team in the WorldTour.
“Like Lotto Dstny, we are a globally impactful brand. This partnership aims to enhance our reach and recognition worldwide,” said Ander Olariaga, Director of Brands and Communications at Orbea. Riders for the team are likely to ride either the recently updated Orca or the speed-focused Orca Aero road bikes. They will also use Orbea Ordu triathlon bikes for time trials.
Ridley, a long-time sponsor of the Lotto team, held the top spot since 1985. In the past 12 seasons and during the years 2005 to 2008, the Belgian brand was the main sponsor.
▲Arnaud De Lie riding a Ridley road bike in the 2023 Belgian Newsprint Tour
The Lotto Dstny roster includes riders such as Thomas De Gendt, Victor Campenaerts, and women’s team members Mieke Docx and Katrijn de Clercq. Notably, Caleb Ewan, the five-time stage winner of the Tour de France, transferred to Jayco-AlUla after a series of underwhelming seasons in 2024.
Editor: Leorao