The Gevaert-Lannoo fanciers offered their entire racing team for sale in the end of 2016, and their number one objective for the upcoming 2017 season would be to develop a new racing team for the future. A collection of 2016 summer youngsters were summoned to bring results in the upcoming seasons. These pigeons did no more than a few shorter training flights as youngsters, and afterwards about 12 pairs were selected for total widowhood.
People assumed that Paul and Carlos would have to take a step back after their auction, but they were proven wrong after the first important longer middle distance race of 2017. The Gevaert-Lannoo pigeons showed to be in excellent form, with an excellent overall performance:
Fontenay 263 yearlings: 1-2-3-5-6-7-9-11-13-15-25-26-27-38-39-44-75 (17/23)
The pigeons that won a 1st and 2nd prize are in fact a nest brother and nest sister; they are a full brother and sister of the talented hen Platina, 1st Prov. and 5th Nat. Ace Pigeon Middle Distance KBDB.