Belgacom won't go in as sponsor with Lotto

Belgacom will not step up to become a cycling team co-sponsor with the Belgian National Lottery, as the required sum of money is too high, according to Belgian media reports.

The two sponsors of Omega Pharma-Lotto have announced that they will split at the end of this season. Lotto is looking for a new co-sponsor for the coming years.

Belgacom was requested to provide an annual sum of 4.5 million euros. “That's too large an amount compared to all of our sponsorship activities,” spokesman Jan Margot told De Tijd, according to the Belga news agency.

The Belgian communications company will continue its other cycling sponsorships. “We reach the sport of cycling through other channels: mountain biking, the Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy cyclo-cross and the personal sponsorship of Sven Nys.”

Lotto is also said to be in negotiations with the international personnel firm Adecco.