Lotto-Dstny wants to turn the tide: De Lie back on the bike, status Van Gils/Van Eetvelt and will Vermeersch stay?

De Lie revealed on his social media on Wednesday that he was already back on his bike, undertaking a 53-kilometer mountain bike ride after withdrawing in Gent-Wevelgem due to a lack of form. Subsequent blood tests revealed Lyme disease as the cause. "That's of course beyond your control," states Van de Wouwer, hesitant to set a specific date for De Lie's return. "He might come back by the end of April, but we're not committing to any timeline yet. Let's see how he progresses with the antibiotics he's started."

Early in the season, there was criticism of Lotto-Dstny's handling of De Lie, suggesting he was overloaded during his altitude training. "Hindsight is always 20/20. I think it was a combination of factors. Arnaud fell ill during his altitude camp, which was obviously a bad start. Then came the crash in Le Samyn, followed by a withdrawal from Paris-Nice. It was a series of unfortunate events, compounded by Lyme disease," he recounts. "Everyone does altitude training, but that doesn't mean we won't reconsider our approach moving forward," he hints at potential changes.

"It's a period where we've faced some setbacks, but we're not the only ones struggling," he references illnesses and crashes affecting teams like Visma | Lease a Bike and Lidl-Trek. "Overall, we're doing well, and there's a positive momentum, even when we were without our two main contenders, Vermeersch and De Lie, for the Flemish classics."

The leaders designated for the Ardennes classics by Lotto-Dstny didn't escape misfortune in the season's first three months either. What's the current situation? "Maxim took a fall in the first stage of Catalonia but has since made his return in the GP Miguel Indurain. So, he should be on track. Andreas Kron has also started logging kilometers again, so he should be ready for the Ardennes classics. Van Eetvelt's situation is a bit more complicated, coming back from knee issues, and it'll be a tight schedule," he says about the UAE Tour winner, who had to miss the Tour of Catalonia for that reason.

This puts a lot on the plate of Van Gils, who already demonstrated his growth with a podium finish at Strade Bianche. "Last year, he finished top eleven three times in the Ardennes, so now we're aiming a bit higher. Missing Catalonia wasn't ideal, but I think Maxim is someone who can prepare well even without race days."

Behind the scenes, Lotto-Dstny made a smart move by securing De Lie, Van Gils, and Van Eetvelt for longer, despite interest from other teams. "These guys fit in well here, are happy with us, and have the opportunity to explore and develop further. I think there was little doubt for both," Van de Wouwer proudly states. Florian Vermeersch, whose contract is ending and has garnered interest, including from Visma | Lease a Bike who find the Belgian an intriguing rider. "We definitely want to keep Florian, but the ball is in his court," says Van de Wouwer.

Overall, Lotto-Dstny is perfectly continuing on the path set a few years back. "The rejuvenation might have been a bit drastic, but I believe it's now paying off. These young riders have shown significant progress, which was partly evident during their time as U23 riders: both won notable races. The talent was there, but it's rewarding to see that progress continue." He also highlights the importance of having experienced riders in a young team. "In a very young squad, it's crucial to have experience in certain areas. I think of the professionalism of someone like Victor Campenaerts, which creates a great mix and balance in our team."