Lennert Van Eetvelt embarassed by big blunder: "You learn something like that with the rookies"

Lennert Van Eetvelt briefly thought he had won the fourth stage of the Vuelta a España, only to see Primoz Roglic zoom past him on the right just before the finish line. It was a painful moment for the Lotto-Dstny rider, but despite the disappointment, he also drew a lot of confidence from his second-place finish for the rest of the race.

The 23-year-old Belgian, who is riding his second Vuelta, made a strong impression on the steep final climb. At one point, he was among the top three climbers. Only he and Enric Mas were able to keep up with Roglic. In the less steep final kilometers, a few other riders caught up, and Van Eetvelt seemed to be heading for the win in the sprint. However, because he celebrated too early, Roglic was able to overtake him at the last moment.

"I can be very satisfied with my form and how the race went. If I had been beaten in a different way, it would have been a great result. Now it hurts a little. Maybe I’ll feel differently about it in a few days," Van Eetvelt told Eurosport.

Van Eetvelt's GC ambitions confirmed with strong performance

Van Eetvelt came to the Vuelta with strong ambitions for the general classification, and with a current fifth-place standing, he's in an excellent position. "I’m here for the GC. Today is a great confirmation, both in terms of form and performance. This result gives me and the team a lot of confidence to push forward in this Vuelta."

When Van Eetvelt realized Roglic had passed him, the young rider was understandably frustrated, letting out a loud shout. "I yelled, but I don’t know if you heard it. That’s what went through my mind at that moment," Van Eetvelt said, keeping the details of his outburst mysterious, though we can all imagine what he might have shouted.

In an interview with HLN, Van Eetvelt elaborated on his celebration blunder. "Did I think I had won with that arm movement? Yes... This is something you learn in the junior ranks—that you have to sprint past the line, not just up to it. I didn’t feel Roglic coming. So I thought I had the win."

"I have mixed feelings," he continued. "I’m very pleased with my form, especially after a tough preparation due to that knee injury. But of course, there’s also a bitter feeling. Because this was stupid. But there are still plenty of days ahead. When I see where I stand in the GC, I can’t help but be happy," he concluded, looking ahead with determination and optimism.

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