Development Lennert Van Eetvelt wins Belgian TT Championship

The 20-year-old takes the national jersey on his birthday!
Race 17 July 2021

Lennert Van Eetvelt won the Belgian U23 Time Trial Championship in Koksijde today! He couldn’t wish for a more beautiful present on his 20th birthday. At an average speed of 46.31 kilometres an hour Van Eetvelt covered the course of 21 kilometres in 27 minutes and 20 seconds. That was fifteen seconds faster than runner-up Arno Claeys. Noah Vandenbranden got third at 31 seconds.

The time trial was very technical and there was a lot of wind, which made it a tough course. I did a recon yesterday, but because part of the course took us to military domain, I could only see the entire course for a first time this morning”, tells Lennert Van Eetvelt. “I can say my time trial was flawless, I rode it like I wanted to. I didn’t immediately have an idea of how I was doing. After one lap I set the best time, so then I knew it was going well. I also saw I was getting close to Noah Vandenbranden who started just before me. But you are only sure when everyone has crossed the finish line. At the finish I knew I had given my all and that I couldn’t have done anything differently. And nobody was faster than me today. I am very happy with this victory.

I made a goal of this Championship this winter”, says Van Eetvelt. “Because of Covid the race got postponed to today, 17 July, and that’s during the Giro Valle d’Aosta which I normally would have ridden. After I set a strong performance at the Giro time trial (Van Eetvelt got 5th) it was decided with the team that I would take part in the Belgian Championship, ride the GP Nogent-sur-Oise tomorrow and the Tour d’Alsace next week. And that turned out to be the right decision!

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