All team leaders out of the Giro: what now for Lotto-Intermarché?
What. Bad. Luck. It is hard to blame Lotto-Intermarché for not piling up top results in the Giro d'Italia, because after fast riders Milan Menten and Arnaud De Lie, now the team's best climber, Lennert Van Eetvelt, is also out. They remain with four riders in Italy, but perhaps the team led by CEO Jean-François Bourlart should now shift their focus to the other races waiting in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands next week.
The team's story is now well known. Due to a 'cow dung' virus, Menten and De Lie arrived sick at the start of the Giro in Bulgaria. They had hoped to get through the first days, but the two were too ill and had to return home after just a few days. British rider Josha Giddings followed shortly afterwards. Van Eetvelt started strong and nearly sprinted for victory in the second stage. On Wednesday, he was also part of the breakaway to Chiavari, where he could have contested the stage win.
But on a descent, the Flemish Brabant native suddenly crashed hard. Not only were his chances for victory dashed, Van Eetvelt broke his middle finger and boarded a plane back to Belgium. Young Italian Simone Gualdi defended himself and still secured an eighth place, while the team also continues with debutant Toon Aerts, Lorenzo Rota, and Jonas Rutsch. Not exactly finishers with big ambitions.
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When we asked sporting manager Kurt Van de Wouwer last week who among those riders could still stand out, the Kempen native already suspected that Aerts still has something in the pipeline. “He manages well uphill, and as we saw in the Tour of Catalonia, he also has a good sprint after a tough race. In the monuments, he showed that he can handle the kilometers. So perhaps something is still possible,” Van de Wouwer thought. With his explosiveness, Aerts has an asset.
The team will have to adopt an attacking approach. Not only with Aerts, but also with the other three. In the flat stages, heavily controlled by Soudal Quick-Step, Lidl-Trek, and the Unibet Rose Rockets, that is impossible. And in stages with too much climbing, other riders will take precedence. In other words, Lotto-Intermarché must look to breakaway stages that are not too difficult, where tactics come into play. Then each of them could have a chance.
Which stages are those? Stage 13 to Verbania is perhaps the best example. A climb awaits in the finale, but neither sprinters nor climbers can do much with it. Furthermore, stage 18 to Pieve di Soligo has the same characteristics, although it is slightly more rugged along the way. Very possibly, stage 17 to Andalo could also offer a chance for the team since no really big climbs await there.
In short, it will be a tough challenge to still achieve many results. And this while the Italian Grand Tour was very important in the team’s strategy. “In recent years, we have always skipped the Giro to aim for UCI points in May,” says Van de Wouwer.
Opportunities in Belgium and the Netherlands
“Now we went to Italy with our point-scorers and, besides that, we are not running a more extensive program than most other teams. We are doing nothing special. Our leaders like De Lie and Jarno Widar return to competition later. The Four Days of Dunkirk, Veenendaal-Veenendaal, Antwerp Port Epic, GP Criquielion, and Boucles de la Mayenne do offer opportunities with other riders.”
Perhaps the biggest chance for the team to still collect UCI points this month. “Primarily with Steffen De Schuyteneer. He is very consistent and has taken a step forward. Maybe Vito Braet can do something with his fast legs, and once Milan Menten is back from illness too. With those guys, we can certainly make an impact in that start list,” analyzes the sporting manager.
The two stages where the team has chances:
