Development Lennert Van Eetvelt overall winner of the Course de la Paix

Following his victory in the queen stage, Lennert secured the overall win.
Race 05 June 2022

The 20-year-old Belgian and rider of the Lotto Soudal Development Team Lennert Van Eetvelt has crowned himself as the overall winner of the Czech Course de la Paix. Following his victory in the queen stage, Van Eetvelt – who together with Lotto Soudal teammate William Junior Lecerf was part of the Belgian national selection – started the closing stage in the yellow leader’s jersey. With an advantage of only thirteen seconds on his nearest rival on GC, the Australian Rudy Porter, the overall victory was anything but a done deal. The Brit Samuel Watson won the final stage in a sprint between a reduced bunch sprint. Van Eetvelt finished twelfth and that way, the youngster secured the overall win at the Course de la Paix.

“This is just fantastic”, reacted Van Eetvelt. “This was one of my biggest goals this season so I am really happy with the overall victory. I just came from a long training period so I had to wait and see a bit how the legs would respond. But I felt really good and it’s a great thing that I could be at the start in top shape. The final stage was anything but easy with several guys still close on GC. Of course yesterday was the hardest stage so I am happy to secure the jersey.”

Winning the Course de la Paix is another big result of Lennert Van Eetvelt in the U23 ranks before he is set to turn pro with Lotto Soudal next year.

“It is great to be part of an impressive group of riders on the Course de la Paix list of honour like Tadej Pogacar, David Gaudu and also Bjorg Lambrecht. As previously announced I will be stepping up from the Development Team and turn pro with Lotto Soudal next year, where I hope to show some great things, like the previous winners of this race. I can’t wait for this new step in my career.”

Image credit: Barbora Reichova - Course de la Paix

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