World champion Cadel Evans has decided to invoke the clause of his contract with Team Silence-Lotto, which offers him the possibility of riding the next seasons for another team. After five successful years which include successes such as two podium places in the Tour de France and the recent World Championship victory in Mendrisio, Evans has decided to take advantage of the opportunities offered by his increased market value and the chance to look for new challenges with a team that will be able to offer him more professional support during three week stage races such as the 2010 Tour de France.

According to team spokesmen Omega Pharma and Lotto have the aim to bring talent to full maturity in a consistent and honest way. It is part of the game, that once riders reach the top, the cyclists sometimes decide to explore new horizons. "Though this is never pleasant for our team, it demonstrates the success of our project, and it opens perspectives for the many talented cyclists who are bursting with impatience, ready to discover their limits and to take over the torch."

Team Silence-Omega Pharma-Lotto will now look for ways to strengthen the team for the 2010 season and beyond.

Marc Sergeant, Team Silence-Omega Pharma-Lotto Manager commented "After an incredible end of the season, with victories of Cadel Evans and Philippe Gilbert, our team finishes sixth in the 2009 Pro Tour rankings." Sergeant added, "We thank Cadel for his unique contribution to this achievement, and we are confident that, with the existing and emerging talents, Omega Pharma-Lotto will continue to experience many sportive peaks in the future. Congratulations and good luck to Cadel. We hope we can coach even more cyclists to reach their top level, to the benefit of the cyclists concerned, the team as well as the beautiful sport discipline that cycling is."