Development Kamiel Eeman and sports director Wesley Van Speybroeck look ahead to the Giro Next Gen
“At U23 level, there is no stage race bigger than the Giro Next Gen. The World Championships as a one-day race and the Tour de l’Avenir are obviously major goals as well, but when it comes to stage races, this Giro stands above all others. All the top teams are here and everyone arrives with a very strong line-up,” says Van Speybroeck.
That makes the Giro Next Gen not only prestigious, but also an important benchmark for the future. “If you perform well here, people will notice. Everyone arrives in top shape and wants to prove themselves. For some riders, this can even be the week in which they earn a professional contract.”
With more than 1,000 kilometres, nearly 15,000 metres of climbing and a varied route, the riders face a demanding challenge. “That is exactly what makes this race so special,” Van Speybroeck continues. “It has everything: sprint stages, hilly stages and tough mountain stages. That makes the race very unpredictable and extremely difficult to win. We have managed to win at least one stage in each of the last four editions and that is one of our goals again this year.”
According to the sports director, the opening stage could already provide plenty of action. “The finale includes several short climbs and it is difficult to predict whether it will suit the punchers or the fast finishers. We do not have a pure sprinter in the team, so we will have to race aggressively. Fortunately, we have a well-balanced squad with several options.”
One of the riders travelling to Italy with confidence is Kamiel Eeman. “My preparation has gone very well,” says Eeman. “After an altitude training camp in Andorra and my victory in the Course de la Paix, I feel ready for this challenge. The varied route offers opportunities for different types of riders, although I am relieved that we are not starting with a time trial this year.”
Eeman sees opportunities particularly in the more demanding stages. “Every stage that does not end in a bunch sprint suits my characteristics. Stages three and five are the first opportunities where the race can really open up.”
Lotto-Groupe Wanty will not head to Italy with one clear leader. However, the performances of recent weeks provide confidence. “The results speak for themselves,” says Van Speybroeck. “Kamiel Eeman and Niels Driesen have shown in recent weeks that they are in very good condition. At the moment, they are our general classification riders and they have earned that status entirely through their performances. In addition, we have riders such as Halvor Dolven, Victor Vaneeckhoutte, Milan Donie and Duarte Marivoet who can seize their opportunities in breakaways and transitional stages.”
How far the team can go against top favourites such as world champion Lorenzo Finn remains an open question. “That is exactly what makes this race so interesting,” concludes Van Speybroeck. “You never know exactly where you stand beforehand. Only when the race explodes in the mountains do you discover how far you can go. We are looking forward to finding that out.”
Photo: Cyclingmedia_agency
