# Rising Star: Lennert Van Eetvelt Aims to Elevate Climbing Skills as He Joins Lotto Dstny ProTeam
As the Lotto Dstny Development team continues its tradition of nurturing young cycling talent, Lennert Van Eetvelt is preparing for his professional debut with high aspirations. The 21-year-old Belgian, hailing from Binkom, will kick off his career at the Mallorca Challenge, joining a roster that has previously propelled athletes like Arnaud De Lie and Harry Sweeny into the professional cycling arena.
Reflecting on his journey through the U23 ranks, Van Eetvelt described the experience as both “a beautiful but also really bizarre period.” The disruptions brought about by COVID-19 made 2022 his first full season in under-23 competition. Despite the setbacks, he feels he made significant strides during his time with the Development Team, saying, “The familiar environment within Lotto Dstny allowed a smoother transition towards the pros.”
The young climber enjoyed a noteworthy 2022 season, highlighted by a stage win and a 2nd overall finish at the Giro U23, as well as an overall victory at the Course de la Paix. “I am really happy with the nice performances I delivered in some of the biggest races,” he shared. However, the consistency he demonstrated across various competitions stands out even more: “In almost all races I had targeted, I was able to show myself and proved that I could perform at the highest level.”
Looking ahead, Van Eetvelt has set his sights on climbing, confirming, “The ambition is indeed to gradually further develop my climbing abilities.” He acknowledges that this ambitious goal will require time and dedication, but he is buoyed by the robust support system at Lotto Dstny, which has recently bolstered its performance team with additional trainers and nutritionists.
Van Eetvelt expressed enthusiasm about these enhancements, noting that adhering to a strict nutrition and training regimen is essential for a climber. He anticipates altitude camps as part of his training, stating, “I’ve never been on an altitude camp myself so it will be interesting to discover how my body reacts to such training efforts.”
As his professional career kicks off on Mallorcan terrain, he remains realistic about his debut. “Strange enough, I’ve never been to Mallorca. Racing on Mallorca is immediately quite intense, so my pro debut definitely won’t be an easy one,” he commented. His primary goal for the upcoming season is simple: “I first want to adapt to the pro level and show myself as much as possible during the races.”
In terms of training locations, he finds Belgium’s limited climbing options somewhat challenging, leading him to prefer Tenerife for training. “The long climbs on the island and the nice weather make it my favourite place to train,” he explained.
Finally, when pondering the ultimate race he dreams of winning, Van Eetvelt expressed a clear ambition: “If a Grand Tour counts, then I’ll pick the Tour de France. The World Championships are also legendary, but as a climber, the Tour is the highest possible.”
As Lennert Van Eetvelt embarks on this thrilling new chapter in his cycling career, fans will be eager to follow his journey and witness how he develops into a formidable competitor on the global stage.
