Lotto's Lennert Van Eetvelt has done his sums ahead of the Giro d'Italia: 'I count around 15 chances'

Lotto-Intermarché are back at the Giro d'Italia for the first time in several years — or at least part of the planned squad is. Three of the eight riders were absent from Wednesday's team presentation due to a virus contracted at the Famenne Ardenne Classic. Team leader Lennert Van Eetvelt, however, was not effected, and was on hand to speak to the press before the race.

Arnaud De Lie (winner at the Famenne Ardenne Classic, who stayed behind at the team hotel), Milan Menten (who took a later flight due to the same virus) and Liam Slock (not present in Bulgaria at all, replaced by Joshua Giddins) were all absent from Burgas — leaving Van Eetvelt with just four teammates to wave to the Bulgarian crowd.

How is Van Eetvelt doing? "I felt good during the Classics, but mostly at a simmering level, if I can put it that way. I was a bit under the weather, but then it picked up quite a lot for a few days. I'm genuinely looking forward to this — my first Giro with this team. It's a race I've always wanted to do. The Tour is also on my calendar, but there are more chances here at the Giro."

With a caveat: "I'm hoping it'll be a Giro with opportunities. I expect Jonas Vingegaard to be very strong, but below him the field might be a little less formidable than at other Grand Tours. Partly because of the riders who have dropped out," he says, referring among others to João Almeida, Mikel Landa and Richard Carapaz.

For Van Eetvelt's own ambitions, it doesn't make a great deal of difference. "This Giro isn't going to be about the GC for me. I haven't had the best start to the season and I'm mainly trying to find my form again and race well, without putting too much pressure on myself beforehand."

"I won't necessarily throw the GC away either, but I won't be taking risks in the sprint stages," explains the Belgian, who excelled at the 2024 Vuelta a España. "In those stages, I'll simply let it go. I'll also be happy if I can stay with the GC riders in the final week — even if I'm not really among them by then and finish fifteenth or something."

"Spread across the three weeks, there are a lot of opportunities for riders like me," Van Eetvelt continues. "I count around fifteen, in theory. I don't have specific stages already locked in my head, but there's a lot that's possible. And I won't only try from a breakaway either — on a good day I can also mix it up with my puncheur ability or ride with the GC men. We'll take it mainly day by day."

On Thursday morning, the day after 3 riders missed Wednesday's team presentation, Lotto-Intermarché posted a video with the captoion: 'Giro team complete'. While it isn't possible to see if every rider is present, the implication from the team is that the full complement of 8 riders will line up at the start in Burgas. We will bring you any updates on the fitness of de Lie and co as they come in.