"Pogacar is not that far away either" - Lennert van Eetvelt not intimated by cycling's best into 2025
Cycling
Lennert van Eetvelt is just one of Lotto's many homegrown talents and although he is a different type of rider, he can aim as high as Arnaud De Lie in 2025. After winning two World Tour stage-races in 2025, battled with some of the world's very best climbers and proven his versatility, the Belgian is eyeing everyone including Tadej Pogacar at the Tour of Flanders and Tour de France.
“I am not that far off. At Il Lombardia, for example, I did not have a good feeling at all, but then the race opened up and suddenly I was among big names like Remco Evenepoel," van Eetvelt shared in an interview with Wielerflits. "I hope to stay with those guys a bit more in the really big races this season and to be able to perform well. In races like the Tour de France I will get a better idea of where I stand".
Van Eetvelt will have a packed spring with stage-races, gravel, cobblestones and the Ardennes as well all present. Then he will make his Tour de France debut. "On the one hand it is a different world, but Pogacar is not that far away either. I will probably never reach his level, on the other hand it does give an idea of where the limits are.”
It is a very busy schedule for a 23-year old, specially one who isn't part of the World Tour, but shows well the level of confidence and ambition that he enters the season. The Tour of Flanders will be a completely new experience for him and he will also use it as an opportunity to learn, get experience and become a better stage-racer.
“When I start, I always want to perform. I wanted to try something different. GC riders are also good at those races, as has been proven in recent years. And if you want to become a good GC rider, you have to be good at everything. They also put those kinds of stages in the Tour, and they will do that more and more in the future, so it was important to come and ride here.”
“Partly. I am increasingly evolving into a stage rider, but I will continue to have different goals. I am aiming for the Ardennes classics, and then the focus will go to the Tour and the Vuelta. I hope that I will manage to switch types of riders throughout the year, so that I have a strong punch in the classics and am at my best in the Grand Tours uphill".
At the Tour de France, he hopes to have freedom and chase stage wins, something which he could well do unless the GC riders take over all mountain days as was the case last year. "In the Tour I am not going for the general classification. I want to try to win a stage there, I will certainly not take any risks for the classification or specifically try to hook on. We will see how it goes there.”
Then at La Vuelta he wants to test himself as a Grand Tour contender. “Normally yes. I hope to achieve my goal from last year and fight my way into the top 10 of the general classification. I especially want a race without bad luck. If more is possible than that top 10, please do. But first and foremost I just hope to be able to ride a good classification".
"Last year I was at that level at the start of the Vuelta, but I couldn't keep it up. It will be important to improve my time trial, yes. I was always a good time trialist when I was younger. By focusing on climbing, we have neglected that a bit in recent years. I hope to pick up the thread again now and get more hours on that bike".
Read also
Just in
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
Popular news
Latest comments
- "On the one hand it is a different world, but Pogacar is not that far away either." My not so bold prediction is that he will not beat Pogacar in a single race where Pogi actually tries winningvappaxbipmv11-01-2025
- i get upset by the narrow-mindedness of people, too, mathieu. living in the united states (for a little while longer) i thought we had cornered the market on harsh, judgmental narrow mindedness. mathieu needs a little hug. me, too…OCexile11-01-2025
- so far, the only things i’ve heard about van der poel’s private life are that he appears to like his girlfriend, golf, and sports cars. if the lamborghini isn’t his then i hope one day he gets one all his own if that’s what he wants. i won’t like him any less.OCexile11-01-2025
- exactly... Holm's comment it's just cheap demagoguery.
maria2024202411-01-2025 - the first two commentators got at this already, but the above article has such a sneering tone i think it’s annoying a bunch of us… Living in WARM, SUNNY PLACES is kinda part of being a competitive cyclist. you know, training in winter and stuff? but even if it WASN’T, sheesh… I like and respect wout, too, but not because (let’s imagine) he drives a 1974 chevy vega and lives in belgium year ‘round.OCexile11-01-2025
- I get him completely, you can be great already but still far from what you could (have) achieve(d). Surprises aside, I think resultswise she’ll do just fine in the new team, after all she never really had to rely on one to get them.Mistermaumau11-01-2025
- Surely, Mikel Landa can speak purely will be a good DS in the future after retirement.
James2631811-01-2025 - Primoz also “lives” there (no-ne in their right mind would actually physically stay there all year but most of the “residents” probably only spend a few months, if not weeks at “home”. No-one seems to know much about this MVDP car, as I said before, I doubt it’s his.Mistermaumau11-01-2025
- Tadej lives in Monaco, Van der poel drives a Ferrari (or Lamborghini), a lot of cyclists get tanned in beautiful beaches... and they are Champs and deserve respect too. It's called "calendar" and money (and/or) career goals to reach.maria2024202411-01-2025
- OCexile, you sound almost contradictory, "greatness that she is capable of" as if it's a question, when you also list all her accomplishments in just 4 years - that already seems kinda great to me! The question seems to be if she can keep this up, especially with a new team. She's a great rider to watch, that's for sure.RidesHills10-01-2025