Monfort to take up Lotto Soudal sports director role after retirement
Belgian will make the move after Famenne Ardenne Classic on Sunday

Maxime Monfort (opens in new tab) (Lotto Soudal (opens in new tab)) will become a directeur sportif after he draws his 15-year pro career to an end on Sunday. The 36-year-old announced his retirement last month, and the Famenne Ardenne Classic will be his final race.
Monfort, who has raced with Lotto Soudal for the past six seasons, will make the switch to the team car immediately and work with five other directeurs sportif for the rest of the season and throughout the 2020 season.
"Originally I did not intend to end my professional cycling career this year, but I only received a proposal to renew my contract at the end of August, while at the same time general manager John Lelangue asked me to become a sports director," said Monfort in a team press release.
Maxime Monfort announces retirement (opens in new tab)
Fair game or unnecessary? The dark arts of blocking the road (opens in new tab)
The Cyclingnews guide to 2019-2020 rider transfers (opens in new tab)
"It came somewhat unexpected, but at that moment, I felt the time was right and besides, the opportunity presented itself. After the Tour de France, I did already think about my future and the idea to retire was already there, independent of the proposition to become sports director. Eventually, it only took two days to make the decision, but I had already put a lot of thought into it."
Monfort will retire with five career victories to his name, including the 2009 Belgian time trial championship, the 2004 Tour of Luxembourg, and the 2010 Bayern Rundfahrt, as well as time trial victories at both those stage races.
The Belgian is not the only rider to make the transition this season, with EF Education First's Matti Breschel already having done so (opens in new tab), undergoing training for the role at the Vuelta a España.
"For the past six years, I raced at the Lotto Soudal team, so I know the staff, riders and the way of working," added Monfort. "It is nice to start my career as a sports director like that.
"It certainly won’t be easy to immediately make the switch from pro rider to sports director, but I am 100 per cent sure of my decision. For example. during the first training camp, it will maybe feel a bit weird to exchange the bike for the car, but I am fully ready.
"There are a lot of differences between a cyclist and a sports director. It may be the same sector, but it is something completely different. I think there are more benefits to a job as sports director; I don’t have to train anymore, and I don’t have to pay attention to what I can or cannot eat.
"Now, I will be able to enjoy life a little more, but at the same time doing what I love. I am very proud of my career, but the moment has come, and I definitely won’t regret it."
Lotto Soudal's 2020 sports directors will include Monfort, Mario Aerts, Herman Frison, Kurt Van De Wouwer, Marc Wauters and Frederik Willems.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Cyclingnews Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Daniel Ostanek is production editor at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired as staff writer. Prior to joining the team, he had written for most major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly, Rouleur, and CyclingTips.
Daniel has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France and the spring Classics, and has interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, Mark Cavendish, Demi Vollering, and Anna van der Breggen.
As well as original reporting, news and feature writing, and production work, Daniel also runs The Leadout newsletter and oversees How to Watch guides throughout the season. His favourite races are Strade Bianche and the Volta a Portugal, and he rides a Colnago C40.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.