# Lennert Van Eetvelt Prepares to Conclude Season at Il Lombardia: “Determined to End on a Positive Note”
Lennert Van Eetvelt is gearing up to finish his cycling season on a high note as he prepares for the upcoming Il Lombardia after a challenging year marked by health setbacks. Having had to withdraw from the Vuelta a España due to health issues, Van Eetvelt has spent the past month recovering and is eager to compete again.
Reflecting on his season, he noted its mixture of triumphs and struggles. “There were high points in the UAE Tour, where he took a surprisingly strong victory. In the Strade Bianche too, where he made a strong finish together with Maxim Van Gils,” he recalled. His strong performance early in the Vuelta included an impressive second place in stage four, where he maintained a position in the top ten for much of the first week. However, injuries plagued him as he faced weeks of downtime due to a knee injury that ultimately required surgery. The later stages of the Vuelta proved challenging, leading to his early exit after stage eleven.
After more than a month away from competitive cycling, Van Eetvelt is prepared to return, with the Gree-Tour of Guangxi in China next on his agenda. Yet, all eyes are set on the Tour of Lombardy first. With teammate Maxim Van Gils absent due to illness, the team can concentrate solely on Van Eetvelt’s performance. “I feel good. In the end, that period after the Vuelta did me well. Lombardia will be one of the races where I feel the freshest at the start (laughs). That’s usually not the case at the end of the season,” he remarked.
Acknowledging the competition, Van Eetvelt mentioned that Tadej Pogacar is the frontrunner for the event but emphasized the importance of a competitive spirit. “Of course, Tadej Pogacar is once again the top favourite. But that shouldn’t stop us from racing. We can’t just submit to his supremacy, can we? If we all start with the mindset that we can’t follow him, we might as well know in advance who’s going to win. That would be a shame.”
Prepared and motivated, he concluded by stating, “On Friday, I scouted the last 75 kilometers of the race. I’m determined to finish the season on a positive note.”
With optimism and determination, Van Eetvelt aims to leave a lasting impression in his final races of the season.
