As I write this there's a distinctly non-Belgian feeling, despite being on the cusp of the most important race of the year for the nation, the Tour of Flanders. On the eve of The Big One, on an unseasonably warm day, between picking up press accreditation, eating a very pleasant mint choc chip ice cream, and planning logistics for what is always a chaotic day, I managed to sneak a half hour at the Lotto team hotel.
Lotto has been sponsoring a cycling team for 40 years, and as such has a lot of heritage to draw upon. Being a Belgian lottery, it stands to reason that it would want to celebrate its anniversary at the most important race for the European nation.
