"The main focus is on the final week" - youngster Lennert Van Eetvelt eyes final top-10 at Vuelta

In Remco Evenepoel's absence, it will be even younger prospects Cian Uijtdebroeks and Lennert Van Eetvelt who will be tasked with carrying the torch of Belgian up high. And where Uijtdebroeks might be bound by team duties as a teammate of defending champion Sepp Kuss, Van Eetvelt should be entrusted with full leadership in the experienced lineup brought by Lotto Dstny.

The 23-year-old Van Eetvelt impressed with overall victory at UAE Tour in February, however from that point onwards, things went sideways for the Belgian, who now sets a more modest goal for himself: "A place in the top 10 would be a good result for me," he tells Het Nieuwsblad. "I will try to follow the favorites and ride at a consistently high level for three weeks. It is certainly not my ambition to sneak into a breakaway. Following the favorites as long as possible, that is my plan."

"I am actually happy that I am here at the start in good shape," the youngster continues. He had to deal with a painful knee injury again this season and on top of all the bad luck was also hit by a car during training. "After my knee problems I rode both the Belgian championships and the Sibiu Tour and I was not satisfied with my condition. I had to work hard to get back to this level, including during a training camp in Tenerife."

He succeeded, as evidenced by his podium place in the Clásica San Sebastian last weekend. "That third place gave me and the team a lot of confidence. I am also happy that I can start here with experienced riders like Victor Campenaerts, Andreas Kron and Thomas De Gendt. The course is very tough, but I have done a good recon of the last seven mountain stages. The first week is also difficult with the heat and the course, but the focus is on the final week."