Development Liam Van Bylen looks ahead to Omloop Het Nieuwsblad U23: “I hope I can finally show what I'm capable of”

Liam Van Bylen finished third in last year’s U23 edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Matys Grisel came second, and Robin Orins took the win. And the red podium didn’t stop there – Joshua Giddings also grabbed fourth place. First, second, third, and fourth for Lotto: the 2024 Omloop was one to remember, producing some unforgettable scenes. This year, the Lotto Development Team will start with a completely different lineup. But that doesn’t have to spoil the fun. “I think we’re at least as strong as last year,” Van Bylen says confidently. “We’ll definitely try to make the race hard. Who gets the nod will depend a lot on how the race unfolds on the day. The key section comes early. The Bosberg is 50 kilometres from the finish. There’s a good chance things come back together by the end. After a tough day of racing, I often still have speed in the legs, so there’s a chance I get my shot. But just as well, a group could stay away, and we’d have a totally different scenario.”

Van Bylen is ambitious and hopes that things finally go his way this time. “Because that hasn’t really been the case this season. Either I’ve had bad luck or I’ve been caught up in crashes. It’s always been something. My form is good – I finished third in the Kersenronde earlier this week. So I really hope I can finally show what I’ve got tomorrow.”

Picture: Brecht Steenhouwer