Lennert Van Eetvelt surprises himself in Lombardy: “I felt the cramps, I don’t even know how tall I was”

Following in the footsteps of Remco Evenepoel, he crossed the Colma di Sormano, but in the end he had to be satisfied with 7th place. Lennert Van Eetvelt once again handed over a business card. “I was actually surprised that I was sitting there.”

In the shadow of Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel, Lennert Van Eetvelt showed that his performances in the UAE Tour and the Vuelta were no fluke. For a while he could dream of the podium, but in the end he finished 7th.

“I was so happy when I saw the finish line,” was the first reaction of Van Eetvelt, who lay down on the ground after the finish and also suffered from cramps in his calf. “It was quite the day,” he smiled.

“I have to be honest: at 60 kilometers from the finish I was one of the last in the peloton. Then I thought it would be difficult to reach the end.” But Van Eetvelt quickly noticed that there were not many fresh ones left.

I was fighting the cramps and I was actually surprised that I was sitting there. I was really at the limit.

Lennert Van Eetvelt

“On the Colma di Sormano I was surprised that I could follow Remco for so long. In retrospect, it might not have been the best idea to try, because I didn’t have my best day.”

“I would have liked to ride with Remco, but I was fighting the cramps and I was actually surprised that I was there. I was really on the limit. Did I think about the podium? At some point I did, but I felt also my legs.”

“I was happy that I got over the last climb, because I was still afraid of that. It was a tough climb and I felt the cramps coming. That was really all I could do.”

Van Eetvelt crossed the finish line in 7th place. “I didn’t even know how much I had grown. I’m especially happy that I made it to the end.”

Van Eetvelt had a year with many ups and downs. He broke through with a final victory in the UAE Tour, but also had to undergo surgery for a knee injury, was hit by a car during training and had to drop out of the Vuelta due to breathing problems.

“I hadn’t raced for a month before Lombardy. So I’m still fairly fresh at the end of the year.” Next week Van Eetvelt will close his year with the Chinese stage race Gree-Tour or Guangxi.