Lotto-Intermarché boosted by fit again Jarno Widar for the Vuelta, but is keeping expectations in check

Lotto-Intermarché announced on Monday who will be competing on behalf of the team in the Vuelta a España. The Belgian team is counting on Jarno Widar for its first Grand Tour, while it is also bringing along Steffen De Schuyteneer, a rookie sprinter, for the flatter stages. Widar recently withdrew from the race in Burgos due to illness.

Luca Van Boven, Lorenzo Rota, Reuben Thompson, Roel van Sintmaartensdijk, and Lars Craps are also on the team, while Vito Braet has been assigned the role of lead-out for De Schuyteneer. Team manager Mario Aerts explains: “Jarno is a winner, and he’s heading to Monaco with that mindset. We’re aiming for a stage win. Although he—and we as a team—would also be very proud if he managed to finish in the top five over the next three weeks.”

"We’re deliberately choosing not to set a specific general classification goal. This is Widar’s very first Grand Tour. He’s never raced for more than eight consecutive days before. So, above all, he has a lot to learn. He’ll discover how his body reacts to three weeks of racing and how he handles each stage. The most important thing is that he gains experience without any pressure. We’ll take the Vuelta day by day and see where that takes us as we go,” said Aerts.

"I'm expecting a hectic opening weekend, so let's just get through that in one piece first. We'll have to stay on our toes. Things could go awry in this Vuelta—we're racing a lot in open terrain with strong winds. And let's not forget the heat, either. In this edition, we’re racing mainly in southern Spain, and it’s scorching hot there,” he continues.

We have a great team to support Widar, but in the stages where Jarno isn’t the one to lead, they can also seize their own opportunities. “Craps is a perfect breakaway rider, just like Van Boven, for example,” Aerts continues. De Schuyteneer will also get the chance to learn. “For him, too, this Vuelta will be three weeks of gaining experience. There aren’t many sprint opportunities—I’ll be happy if three come up. It won’t be an easy Vuelta for them, but we’ll take advantage of every opportunity that arises.”

Jarno Widar
Lars Craps
Luca Van Boven
Vito Braet
Steffen De Schuyteneer
Lorenzo Rota
Roel van Sintmaartensdijk
Reuben Thompson