Earlier today the companies behind Team Quick Step and Team Omega Pharma-Lotto announced that the two teams will merge and become Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step starting with the 2012 season.

The new combined team will be managed by Patrick Lefevere who is currently manager of Team Quick-Step and Omega Pharma will be the team's main sponsor for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, with an option to extend for one additional year. Quick-Step will be the new team's co-sponsor and has agreed to support the team for the next 3 years.
Innergetic will remain official partner of the team for the next season.

"We are very pleased with the deal we reached with Omega Pharma/BCC (Belgian Cycling Company), as much as we are about Quick Step's renewal as co-sponsor and Innergetic as official partner," Team Manager Patrick Lefevere commented in a statement from the team and added "I would like to thank everyone involved for their professionalism during the negotiations."

"I am delighted that Omega Pharma and Quick-Step have joined forces. I believe together we can build a much stronger position in the sport in 2012," says Chairman of the Board Bessel Kok.

According to Omega Pharma's CEO Marc Coucke "With this agreement we continue to invest in a Belgian team, reinforced with international talent. As in previous years our goal is to be one of the top teams in the Worldtour."