Retired Classics hardman Tom Boonen could be dropped from his advisor role at Lotto-Soudal.
Boonen, who retired after the 2017 Paris-Roubaix, switched from Quick-Step Floors to Belgian rivals Lotto-Soudal as a “technological advisor” for 2018.
But Lotto’s new CEO John Lelangue said Boonen may not be kept on next season.
Lelangue told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab): “At the moment Tom is not part of my plan.
“He is someone who can definitely add value to the team, only he must have a full function and at the moment it’s not clear to me how exactly we can fill it.”
>>> Quick-Step Floors announce new title sponsor
The incoming CEO, who replaces Paul De Geyter after just one year, this week organised a non-rider team day at the Soudal headquarters in northern Belgium.
Team staff, doctors, cooks and mechanics all attended, but Boonen did not take part in the event.
Boonen rode for Quick-Step Floors for 15 seasons before retiring from the sport last season at the age of 37.
Lotto-Soudal and Quick-Step have maintained a long-standing rivalry as the two Belgian WorldTour outfits.
>>> Floyd Landis challenges Donald Trump through Lance Armstrong settlement
But despite the competition, Boonen moved joined Lotto this season as an advisor and shareholder.
The four-time Paris-Roubaix and triple Tour of Flanders winner joined as part of Lotto’s Captains of Cycling programme, which allows the public to invest in the team and get a range of benefits.
He was also given an additional role as advisor.
In his final racing season, Boonen finished 13th in Paris-Roubaix and took top-10s in E3 Harelbeke and Ghent-Wevelgem.
During his career, he won six Tour de France stages, the World Championships in 2005, and the Tour of Qatar overall four times.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
MADE Bike Show sells out registration in record time
A new handmade bike show is coming to Portland, Oregon this fall with 145 builders and brands registered to show off their craft
-
Skip the gatorade, nonalcoholic beer may be as good as, or even better than, sports drinks
Dry January may be over but you may want to keep stocking those nonalcoholic beers — for fitness sake.
-
Tom Boonen: 'Remco Evenepoel should get away from Belgium as much as possible'
The former Quick-Step rider said he didn't enjoy the fame of being world champion
-
From the cobbles to the race track: Tom Boonen is living his best life
Classic legend Tom Boonen on race car driving, Mathieu van der Poel and modern cycling
-
Tom Boonen says his comeback was ‘concrete,’ but has now been abandoned due to coronavirus
Tom Boonen has said his plans for a comeback were “concrete,” but have since been abandoned due to coronavirus.
-
Tom Boonen admits he often considers making a professional comeback
Tom Boonen says that a return to the professional peloton is "an option."
-
Tom Boonen backs Geraint Thomas to defend Tour de France title
Boonen says the strength of Ineos means Thomas won't suffer as much in the final week, which could prove crucial
-
Tom Boonen says 'there's magic in Deceuninck - Quick–Step' as team dominates one-day races
Deceuninck - Quick-Step contains a bit of magic that the other top Classics teams lack, says retired Classics star Tom Boonen.
-
Tom Boonen: 'Remco Evenepoel needs to learn to ride tactically at WorldTour level'
Tom Boonen has applauded rising Belgian star Remco Evenepoel for his world titles in Innsbruck this week, but says the junior cyclist "needs to learn to ride tactically at WorldTour level."
-
Peter Sagan should stop complaining about other teams, says Tom Boonen
The Classics legend says Sagan should not complain about other teams refusing to cooperate with him, saying "he is the one who always starts to sit on"
