Lotto relies on remaining leader after major exodus but pits him against Pogacar very often

Lennert Van Eetvelt (23), the golden boy of the Lotto team, will make his debut in the Tour of Flanders this year. While his season is centered around the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, he’s also adding the Tour of Flanders to his spring schedule alongside the Ardennes classics. "The Tour de France now often includes stages with cobblestones or gravel. I think they’ll add more and more of those in the future," Van Eetvelt told IDLProCycling.com during a press day ahead of the new season.

Van Eetvelt experienced a mixed year in 2024. He started strong, winning the UAE Tour general classification. He also impressed in Strade Bianche, playing a key role in Maxim Van Gils’ podium finish. However, his momentum was disrupted by a persistent knee injury that sidelined him for an extended period. His return was further delayed after a serious training crash in Spain. The Belgian rising star in stage racing redeemed himself in the fall with a podium finish in the Clásica San Sebastián, a solid first week in the Vuelta, seventh place in the Tour of Lombardy, and the overall win at the Tour of Guangxi.

In 2025, Van Eetvelt will be more central than ever to the Lotto Cycling Team’s plans. The team faced significant upheaval last year. Victor Campenaerts departed for Visma | Lease a Bike after being kept waiting for a new contract. Maxim Van Gils terminated his contract early to join Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe—a move that, while amicable, still marked a major blow for the Belgian squad. Additionally, the team lost key riders Florian Vermeersch and Pascal Eenkhoorn. On the positive side, Lotto managed to retain rising star Jarno Widar within its ranks.

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Van Eetvelt set to defend his UAE title against Pogacar

"I’m starting my season at the UAE Tour," Lennert Van Eetvelt revealed during the team presentation. "It won’t be easy—or perhaps even possible—to defend my title there, but I’m ready to take on Pogacar (Tadej, ed.). After the UAE Tour, I’ll race several spring classics: the Tour of Catalonia, Strade Bianche, and the Tour of Flanders," he surprised. "You have to dare to try a different approach these days. Many GC riders excel in races like the Tour of Flanders. If you want to be a top-tier stage racer, that’s part of the game now."

Van Eetvelt aims to gain experience that will benefit him in stage racing. The fact that his choices, like Strade and Flanders, will often pit him against Pogacar is secondary. "The Tour increasingly includes stages with cobblestones or gravel. I think they’ll add more of those in the future. Am I ambitious about the Tour of Flanders? If I start, I always want to perform. I also think Arnaud De Lie and I can complement each other well there. He can wait longer, while I can engage earlier in the race. That puts him in an ideal position."

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Van Eetvelt embraces unique challenge With Tour of Flanders

Ardennes Classics and Tour de France: "Not riding the Tour for the GC"

With Maxim Van Gils now at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and Andreas Kron at Uno-X, Van Eetvelt seems to be Lotto’s sole hope for the Ardennes classics and stage races. "It’s unfortunate that Max left, as we complemented each other very well. He was more of a puncheur, and I’m more of a climber. But I expect a lot from our newcomer, Reuben Thompson. I’ll also focus more on the Ardennes classics now. In recent years, something always came up that prevented me from racing them. I hope this year I can finally be at the start," Van Eetvelt said. Does Van Gils’ departure place more pressure on Van Eetvelt’s shoulders? "I don’t feel much change in pressure. I’m just doing my best."

Like many stage racers, Van Eetvelt divides his season into blocks. The classics block will be followed by preparation for two grand tours on his calendar: the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. "I’m not going to the Tour for the GC. My goal is to win a stage. That’s easier said than done. I’m not going to deliberately lose time in the first week, but it’s always so hectic that I certainly won’t take any risks there. My career goal has always been to win a stage in the Tour."

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Lennert Van Eetvelt aims for the GC once again at the Vuelta

Van Eetvelt eyes Vuelta top 10: "Now I just need a bit of luck"

After the Tour de France, Lennert Van Eetvelt will shift his focus to the Vuelta a España, where he aims to secure a top-ten finish in the general classification, much like last season. Supporters may recall that during the first week of the 2024 Vuelta, he nearly matched Primož Roglič on the climbs—separated by just the width of a tire at times. "A top ten in the GC would already be a great result," Van Eetvelt says. "What’s crucial is having a race without bad luck. If I can do better, great, but my main goal is to ride a solid classification and stay as close as possible to the top riders. Last year, I managed that level at the start of the Vuelta. Now, I just need a bit of luck."

Van Eetvelt isn’t leaving everything to chance, however. Improving his time trialing is a key focus for the year. "One of my goals this season is to refine my time-trialing skills. I used to be a good time trialist in the junior ranks, but in recent years, I’ve focused more on climbing, and that aspect has been somewhat neglected. I hope to get back into the rhythm, put in hours on the time trial bike, and deliver solid performances against the clock, minimizing time losses in stage races."

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