Hugo Page Is Next Rider to Leave After Lotto and Intermarché Merger

Like Laurenz Rex, Hugo Page is also looking elsewhere now that the merger between Lotto and Intermarché-Wanty is imminent. The strong French sprinter had no shortage of interest and will race for a team in his home country. Several sources point to Cofidis.

The 24-year-old Frenchman turned pro in 2022 with Intermarché-Wanty. He developed into a rider for the classics squad and the team’s sprint train. In 2024, he played an important role in the successful Tour de France campaign of the Walloon team, in which leader Biniam Girmay won three stages and the points classification. In the past year, his progress seemed to stall a bit, but there were still several teams eager to sign him.

Ultimately, it is Cofidis that has won the race for Page. The Frenchman is therefore turning the page and embarking on a new adventure. The young rider still had a contract with Intermarché-Wanty running until the end of 2026. Due to the upcoming merger between Lotto and Intermarché-Wanty, there is a surplus of riders. The departure of the Frenchman creates a bit more room in the new Belgian team, although the merger process is not yet finalized.

Creating space in the merged team
Besides Page, another rider is leaving Girmay’s sprint train: Laurenz Rex. The rider from the German-speaking part of Belgium was announced earlier this week at Soudal-Quick-Step. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Gerben Thijssen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Alexy Faure Prost (Picnic PostNL) are also attracting interest from other teams. The same applies to Girmay himself, by the way. Belgian media have linked him to Israel-Premier Tech for some time, although sources close to the team keep insisting that he will remain.

The merger team will have a strong Belgian character. For now, riders such as Arnaud De Lie, Lennert Van Eetvelt, Toon Aerts, Jenno Berckmoes, Jasper De Buyst, Steffen De Schuyteneer, and Jarno Widar are expected to stay from Lotto. They will be joined by several of their compatriots from Intermarché-Wanty. From that team, Dutchmen Huub Artz, Taco van der Hoorn, and Roel van Sintmaartensdijk are also likely to secure a spot. More clarity is expected soon.