Belgium talent Lennert Van Eetvelt reveals what it’s like behind the scenes at Lotto Dstny: “A lot has changed”
Cycling
Lennert van Eetvelt was one of the main reasons behind
Lotto Dstny’s decent season, despite some unrest at the team. So far this off
season, we’ve heard some rumours about unhappiness within the squad, which were
confirmed when Maxim Van Gils decided to terminate his contract, and then the
team’s sponsor Dstny left.
But still, Van Eetvelt remains positive with what he sees at
his team, as he told the De Rode Lantaarn podcast, "I signed as a
second-year promise. Then I stayed a promise for another year and then moved on
to the professional team."
But the 23 year old Belgian has admitted that he did have
his concerns following the 202 season. "I have to be honest, I had doubts
about the team the year after. There was also all that fuss about the
relegation from the WorldTour then.
"Not that I regretted it. Maybe that was more in the
summer after, after I had a good last year with the promises,” said the 2024
UAE Tour and Tour of Guangxi winner. “I was very happy with the promises team,
but in the press you read this and then that. If I compare the training camps
from then with those of now, a lot has changed. Back then, nobody weighed their
food, while now even the sprinters do that."
Van Eetvelt went on discuss his 2024 season, where he showed
very promising signs, "I started well and then maybe I was a bit too
enthusiastic. I came back from the UAE Tour on Monday and went to train for six
hours on Wednesday. That was with Maxim Van Gils, who was in the last four
hours.
"I rode the same power the entire training: hard, but
not extreme. Only Maxim rode two gears higher uphill. And neither of us gave
up. That training was almost as hard as the race. I like to start a race a bit
tired, but in retrospect it wasn't the best idea."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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