Maxim Van Gils for hilly classics and stages, Lennert Van Eetvelt for GC - young Lotto Dstny stars "complement each other perfectly"
Cycling
Maxim Van Gils was one of the best riders of this hilly classics season and that's why there's no wonder some wonder whether, being such good climber, Van Gils could possibly challenge Grand tours in the future. However Lotto Dstny sports director Kurt Van de Wouwer thinks this role would suit his teammate Lennert Van Eetvelt far better.
"Based on his results last year, we knew that Maxim was capable of this," Van de Wouwer told Sporza about his Eschborn-Frankfurt sprint victory. "But what is striking is that he almost never has a bad day. He is very consistent."
Van Gils proved several times to be an excellent climber. The logical next question is: can he do it at Grand tours? "I think Maxim is more of a rider for one-day work, although he must also be able to ride for GC in week-long stage races."
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"Lennert Van Eetvelt should be able to ride for general classifications in those Grand tours. In that respect, they complement each other perfectly," Van de Wouwer points out.
Van Gils is already assured of his place in the Lotto-Dstny Tour team. Last year he came 2nd at Le Grand Colombier. "He now also goes as a stage hunter. He is given complete freedom to choose his stages."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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