"We might have to draw a line under this year" - Lotto DS expresses concern about Lennert Van Eetvelt's racing return

Lennert Van Eetvelt is well-recognized as one of the most promising young climbers in the peloton. However his true potential hasn't really been to come to the surface yet as injuries and illness continue to haunt the 24-year-old Belgian. The Lotto leader has not raced since the Tour de France due to a back injury and this lingering issue continues to keep Van Eetvelt off his bike even now, nearly two months later.

The 2024 season started perfectly for Van Eetvelt with a victory at the UAE Tour, but the Lotto rider was promptly shut down in March by a knee injury that saw him out of action until National Championships in June. The moment everything seemed to be going perfectly again and Van Eetvelt was seemingly ready to contest the Vuelta a Espana, an illness prevented him from competing in the second week of the race.

Hoping for a fresh start this year, Van Eetvelt once again opened the year strongly with a number of top-10 finishes in WorldTour races. But then came Tour de France in July, and the young climber completely vanished from the radar for two weeks before his abandon was confirmed before the second rest day.

And unlike last year, it looks as though a swift return won't be possible this time.

"Lennert's rehabilitation is taking longer than hoped," sports director of Lotto Kurt Van de Wouwer informed in an interview with WielerFlits. "A return to the peloton is definitely not on the cards for tomorrow."

In fact, the Belgian confides that the back injury may prevent Van Eetvelt from pinning back on his bib numbers again in 2025. "It's quite possible at the moment. If he's not fully training within the next week and a half, we'll have to draw a line under this year. Lennert is coming back from a long way down, and then we have to be willing to look to next year."