Partly due to sponsor Marc Coucke, a virulent competition between Davitamon and the floorbuilders of Quickstep took place last year. The men of Lefevere won that fight by a landslide; with Pozzato and Boonen Quickstep won two classics while Davitamon-Lotto had a very pale spring. The only light during this dark period was Gert Steegmans, but of all people he is the guy that has left the squad for their biggest rivals, a new chapter in the turbulent history of these two teams.


Fact is Predictor-Lotto (the teams new name since last winter) can’t top the superiority of the competition in the...