With lots of wins, Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise have had an amazing season. In 2015, however, they will have to do without most of their leaders and manager Walter Planckaert admits that it will be hard to achieve similar results in the coming season.

With eleven UCI wins UCI (including Jelle Wallays Paris-Tours victory), the individual (with Tom Van Asbroeck) and team wins in the UCI Europe Tour, the outcome of the season is exceptional for Topsport Vlaanderen. 

"Hats off to the whole team," manager Walter Planckaert told Living4cycling. "This year we really accomplished our mission."  

The team manager gives two explanations for the success. 

"We have the team with fast riders like Tom Van Asbroeck and Michael Van Staeyen. Kenneth Van Bilsen and Yves Lampaert are not slow either and have also won races this year. But I often say to my riders that it will be a chase for the sprinters if they stay in the peloton. Try it! Maybe it only work in 10 out of 100 races but it's still 10 wins in the end."

The success has had a prize since leaders like Van Asbroeck, Van Staeyen, Van Bilsen, Lampaert, Zico Waeytens and Jasper De Buyst will leave the team in 2015.

"Our goal is to prepare riders for the World Tour so it is logical to have departures," Planckaert said. "We will do exactly the same with the new riders."

In any case, Walter Planckaert believes they will impress their future employers. 

"Certainly, they certainly won't disappoint. Everything will depend on the job they will be given. In terms of results, the riders will be less successful but the teams wills be able to benefit from them."

Logically, the next question is whetherTopsport Vlaanderen-Baloise will be able to repeat this kind of performance. Walter Planckaert is relatively clear on this point. 

"Let's be realistic. It will be almost impossible to match our performance from 2014. We have found some replacements. I'm sure they will also make some good performances, but our goal is to train them for two or three years to bring them to the level of the riders who are leaving us this year." 

In 2015, Oliver Naesen Amaury Capiot, Bert Van Lerberghe, Floris De Tier, Jef Van Meirhaeghe and Jens Wallays will join the team.