Maxime Monfort (opens in new tab) (Lot Soudal (opens in new tab)) will end his 15-year professional career on Sunday and take over the Directeur Sportif. The 36-year-old announced his retirement last month, and the Famennes Ardennes Classic will be his last race.

Montfort, who has raced for Lotto Soudal for the past six seasons, will immediately switch to a team car and will work with five Directeur Sportifs for the remainder of this season and throughout the 2020 season.

"Originally I had no intention of ending my professional cycling career this year, only to be offered a contract renewal at the end of August, while at the same time being asked by General Manager John Lerangue to become Sport Director," Montfort said in a team press Montfort said in a team press release.

"Although somewhat unexpected, at that moment I knew the time had come. After the Tour de France, I was already thinking about my future, and apart from the proposal to become a sporting director, I already had the idea of retiring. In the end, it only took me two days to make a decision, but I already had a lot on my mind"

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Montfort will retire with five wins, including the 2009 Belgian time trial championships, the 2004 Tour de Luxembourg, and the 2010 Bayern-Lundfahrt, as well as time trial victories in these two stage races.

In addition to the Belgian riders, EF Education First's Matti Breschel has also made the move this season after training at the Vuelta a España (opens in new tab).

"Having raced with the Lotto Soudal team for the past six years, I know the staff, the riders, and the way they work," Montfort added. It's great to start my career as sport director in this way."

"It certainly won't be easy to make the transition from professional rider to sport director right away, but I am 100% sure of my decision. For example, it might feel a little weird to switch from a bike to a car at my first training camp, but I'm ready for it." [There are many differences between a cyclist and a sport director. They may be in the same field, but they are very different. I think there are more advantages to being a sport director. You don't have to train anymore, you don't have to worry about what you can and can't eat.

"From now on I can enjoy life a little more and do what I love at the same time. I am very proud of my career, but the time has come.

Montfort, Mario Aerts, Hermann Frisson, Kurt Van de Wouwer, Marc Vauters, and Frederik Willems will be Lotto Soudal's 2020 sports directors.