Lennert van Eetvelt ready for huge role on Tour of Flanders debut: “We believe he has the capacity for it
Cycling
Lennert Van Eetvelt will make his Monument debut at the Tour of Flanders this Sunday, leading the Lotto Cycling Team in one of the sport’s most demanding and prestigious races.
Despite his inexperience on the cobbled classic, team manager Nikolas Maes believes the 23-year-old is more than ready for the challenge.
“He can certainly hold his own,” Maes told Sporza.
Van Eetvelt has enjoyed an impressive 2025 season so far, finishing eleventh at the UAE Tour, ninth at Strade Bianche, and eighth in the Tour of Catalonia, performances that have highlighted his versatility and strength.
“He has really been working on it,” Maes added. “We already had the goal to protect him during this race, because we believe he has the capacity for it.”
However, Van Eetvelt was absent from Lotto’s press activities on Friday due to mild illness symptoms. The team confirmed he had been feeling unwell throughout the day.
“This morning (Friday morning) he already indicated that his stomach was turning and he felt a bit dizzy. He also indicated the same after training, so we decided to let him rest completely for a while. That is why there was no press moment, but he remains Plan A. We assume that we will see a fit Van Eetvelt at the start on Sunday.”
The team remains confident that, should he feel well, Van Eetvelt can deliver a strong ride, particularly on the climbs.
“We know what he can do, especially uphill. We also have no doubt that he will let his legs do the talking. Over the second passage of the Oude Kwaremont, for example. Although it will be important to get through all the hectic and the positioning battle well. He can certainly hold his own, but in that respect we and he will have to wait and see.”
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