ProTeam Toon Aerts impresses in breakaway with the favorites, Lennert Van Eetvelt finishes a strong 13th in Stage 9 of the Giro
# Toon Aerts Shines in Stage 9 of Giro d’Italia; Lennert Van Eetvelt Rides Strong to 13th Place
Stage 9 of the Giro d’Italia showcased remarkable performances, particularly from Toon Aerts and Lennert Van Eetvelt. With 72 kilometers remaining, Aerts made a strategic move, joining a counterattack alongside Giulio Ciccone and Diego Ulissi. This move paid off as the trio successfully bridged to the leading group just 15 kilometers later.
Aerts demonstrated his tactical awareness throughout the race, despite the competitive atmosphere. “I hope they don’t take it personally,” he stated regarding the other riders in the breakaway. “We were racing tactically; they have to understand that. Today I was riding entirely in support of Lennert Van Eetvelt, and besides, I’m not exactly a climber…”
As the race progressed, Aerts recognized the importance of maintaining his energy. “When Ciccone went solo, that was my signal to continue at my own pace and stop fighting for the front,” he explained. “I managed to stay with those guys for a very long time, but I also had to make sure I didn’t go too deep. Once the peloton started closing in, I tried to recover for a minute and then do a bit more work for Lennert. Not that I could still do much, but still. I’m very happy with what we showed today.”
With the team down to only five riders, Aerts’ leadership was crucial. “If we can race the way we did today, then we still have two beautiful weeks ahead of us,” he emphasized.
Van Eetvelt also reflected positively on his performance in the final stage before the rest day. “I briefly considered following Ciccone when he attacked. In the end, I didn’t, but he lasted much longer than I expected,” he shared. Acknowledging Aerts’ remarkable effort, he added, “Toon did go with him, and that was really impressive. Those final 25 kilometers of climbing were a serious effort, but the nature of the climb — with flatter recovery sections alternating with very steep ramps — suits me better than the long mountain stages.”
Though he just missed out on the top ten, Van Eetvelt remained optimistic. “I tried to squeeze out whatever I still had left,” he said, “but I can’t be unhappy with my first part of this Giro.”
As the race inches closer to the halfway mark, the team’s resilience and tactical racing strategies continue to instill hope for an exciting few weeks ahead.
