ProTeam Lennert Van Eetvelt shows strong form in Clásica San Sebastián debute

A breakaway of ten riders, among them Sylvain (Moniquet) for Lotto Dstny, coloured the first part of the Clásica San Sebastián. The race went off on the Jaizkibel, almost all the riders in the break got caught one by one. On the Erlaitz Pavel Sivakov (UAE Team Emirates) chose the attack and went alone. In the back an interesting group got formed, with three riders of Lotto Dstny: Maxim Van Gils, Andreas Kron and Lennert Van Eetvelt.

Van Gils and Kron worked hard to keep the gap to Sivakov under control. Sivakov got caught and on the Pilotegi - the final climb with a section to 27% - Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) and Marc Hirschi went alone, behind the duo Van Eetvelt took it all out for the third place. Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) won the sprint-à-deux and Van Eetvelt strongly finished third.

“It was really important for me to find that good feeling today, and so I did”, a happy Lennert Van Eetvelt spoke after the race. “After the difficult period I had with my knee problems I’m super happy with this third spot. Today everything fell in place, with Sylvain in the early break we had the control from the beginning. The team decided to go for my card, as I felt well. Seeing Maxim and Andreas work for me gave me a lot of confidence. I knew I wasn’t as explosive as the others and I chose my own pace.”

“At the end I think I missed out on a bit of experience to follow the wheel of Alaphilippe and Hirschi. At one point I was unsure if I would be able to still find back the good feeling this season, that the team gives me such confidence after everything feels fantastic.”

Picture: PhotoNews