Richard Plugge has done it again. It was not the first time that the future of the Belkin team was uncertain but again the former journalist has managed to find new sponsors. Last Thursday he proudly presented Team LottoNL-Jumbo.

Richard Plugge is a man in high demand at the presentation of the new LottoNL-Jumbo team. There is lots of skepticism regarding the new combination of cycling and skating but for the sponsors, it is a masterstroke. The cycling season fits perfectly well with the skating season which gives publicity all year. But will it also benefit the athletes? The question is asked several times in TivoliVredenburg where the team was presented to the press last Thursday. Plugge quietly asnwered all questions numerous times. The former editor of sports magazines knows how to handle the journalists.

He makes it clear that the benefits will mainly come from sharing the knowledge. How to do it will be made clear in the next few months.

"We want to work together as much as possible. Share our knowledge about nutrition, training camps and coaching for example. During the Tour de France, there is often no other races. Riders who are not riding in France, are often attending a training camp. At the same time, the skaters are in full preparation for their season. You can imagine that these summer camps would work great together."

The yellow-black formation will reportedly have ​​a total budget of ten million euros. For the cycling team that is a much smaller amount compared to recent years. 

"We won't say anything about the level of the budget. We have agreed on that," he says diplomatically. 

The merger of two sports teams is not a sign of a lack of money, Plugge states.

"It is just a means to grow where we bring something together and make it grow. You should see it as something like 1 + 1 = 3. Financially but also commercially," he says. 

"This is a very special moment. After footba,ll cycling and skating are the biggest sports in the Netherlands. It is unique that we can now merge into one team."

To break new ground in the world of sports, he had to spend countless of hours in conference rooms. He had lots of discussions and negotiations. He now also had to convince potential sponsors to accept Jac Orie's skating team. Meanwhile, the cycling season continued. Finally, he managed to reach a sponsorship agreement for two years which will be followd by an evaluation and a possible extension for another two years.

The team is now a reality but there is no time for vacation. The press conference takes place in the middle of the application process for a new WorldTour license.

"We already have the license but we must apply again every year. It's process of submitting all sponsorship and rider contracts. It is a formality that has to be done. We are currently working at it."

Although the paperwork for the license is about to be finalized, the team is not complete for next season. With 24 riders under contract, the current Belkin team has one rider more than the required minimum. The UCI requires that WorldTour teams have at least 23 riders on the roster.

"There is still room to strengthen our team," Plugge explains. "If we have the chance to sign a talent, we would gladly make our team younger. Bur for now, we sit on our hands like most other teams. There is a lot going on regarding the reform of the teams and race calendar. All team are already taking the new rule into account as it will be in place for next year. The UCI will reduce the maximum number of riders per team to 22.

"Most WorldTour team go into this season with 24-25 riders. That means that if all teams had 30 riders under contract for 2014, you have 18 times five riders that are left on the market. So there are lots of riders available and we should be able to attract another one or two of them. We have guys to keep an eye on that, especially Nico (Verhoeven, ed.), Merijn (Zeeman, ed.) and Louis (Delahaije, ed.) who follow the market very closely. If we add another rider, he needs to be young and talented. The core of the team is ready."

For Team LottoNL-Jumbo the spotlight will be on Robert Gesink and Wilco Kelderman. Bauke Mollema will join Trek Factory Racing and Lats Boom will go to Astana, giving more freedom Team RadioShack-Nissan-Trek and Lars Boom to Astana creates more freedom for the other top riders of the team. New riders will have more chances. Plugge says that keeping the main riders together was excluded. 

"This year we had a tremendously broad top compared to other teams. Our team consisted of seven or eight real leaders so  it is logical that a few of them decide to leave."