Lotto Dstny cyclist Lennert Van Eetvelt: “This was not a doping case, but an anti-doping case”
Lennert Van Eetvelt is a Belgian cyclist who currently races for the Lotto Dstny team. Although he is only 21 years old, he is a rising star, already with great results as a neo-professional. He trained with the Lotto – Soudal U23 development team (now Lotto Dstny U23) until the 2022 season and was then promoted to the pro team, where he currently races.
In late April, Van Eetvelt found himself involved in an irregularity with WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) regarding a doping case, or more precisely, as he told us himself, “an anti-doping case.”
Doping has promoted continuous scandal in Portugal as well, with some voices expressing the belief that doping is ingrained in the culture of Portuguese cycling. However, are we judging this culture too harshly?
Given the complexity and delicacy of these scenarios, we talked to Lennert Van Eetvelt to understand what it is like to be implicated in an anti-doping case, because behind every case, there is always a human being.
Lotto Soudal U23
During his time with Lotto Soudal U23 from 2020 to 2022, Van Eetvelt began to catch the eye of many. His performance showed a remarkable upward trajectory throughout his career, highlighting the exceptional work carried out by the development teams in Belgium.
In 2022, Van Eetvelt’s final season in the youth categories, he achieved a handful of relevant results, which propelled him to the professional level. He secured multiple podium finishes that year, including a second place in Liege – Bastogne- Liege U23 and in the Flèche Ardennaise, a stage in the Giro d’Italia Giovani Under 23, the second place in the general classification of the Tour of Alsace and the general classification of the Course de la Paix Grand Prix Jeseníky.
How did you start cycling?
Lennert Van Eetvelt : “I started pretty early, around the age of eight. I used to go to
high school by bike every day with my friends. One of my friends wanted to start cycling, so I joined in as well. Then on vacations, I went to the mountains with my dad a lot of times, that’s where it all started. “
What are your best memories riding for Lotto – Soudal U23?
Lennert Van Eetvelt: “2022 was definitely a good year, with Baby Giro and the Ardennes races. I performed really well, I really showed that I was ready for it, and they gave me the opportunity [with the pro team, ed.] this year. I’m really happy to be able to perform at this level this year.”
Lotto Dstny
Already this season, Van Eetvelt has made an impression, given his young age, by competing neck and neck with the best cyclists in the world. At the beginning of the season, he secured podium finishes in the Trofeo de Andratx (3rd place) and in the Trofeo Serra Tramuntana (2nd place). In both the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var and the Volta a Catalunya, he came 4th in the youth classification.
This year you already proved to be at a good level, were you expecting to have these results so fast in your first season as Pro-cyclist?
Lennert Van Eetvelt :“Yeah, it’s my first pro season, so I was really looking forward to it. It is more of a learning season, just trying to find things out and having fun while racing. Yeah, I am doing a good.”
Regarding your 3rd place in Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes, how was it to share the podium with Richard Carapaz?
Lennert Van Eetvelt: “A couple of years ago, I was just watching them on TV and dreaming of racing with them, and now I’m climbing up a mountain with them, so it’s a special feeling, because I could actually race with these guys.”
What are your goals for the rest of the season?
Lennert Van Eetvelt: “For me, the big goal is the Vuelta. I have always looked forward to it, to win a stage in a Grand tour. I loved it when I was a kid (Grand Tours) and it’s my favorite thing in cycling, I want to be part of that as well.”
What role does your team, Lotto-Dstny, play in reaching your goals?
Lennert Van Eetvelt: “Well, I’m extremely happy with the team, they believe in me, I have freedom and I’m very grateful for those opportunities as well. In almost every race I have been in this year, I have been the leader or had a free role, so I can only praise them.”
The situation that led to the positive control
On April 21, 2023, Lotto Dstny reported that it was informed by WADA of an “alleged anti-doping law violation” during the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var by Lennert Van Eetvelt.
The team clarified that it was informed of an “alleged anti-doping law violation” during the Tour of the Maritime and Var Alps in February. Lennert van Eetvelt was placed on a non-active status during the investigation. The team emphasized that this action was taken in accordance with the guidelines of the MPCC (Mouvement pour un Cyclisme Crédible); that they supported the athlete and that they expressed their hope for a good outcome of this situation, as stated in their press release.
The substance mentioned in the WADA dossier is an authorized substance that is found in a nasal spray, which the cyclist had used on multiple occasions. It is freely available and its use in competition is actually permitted, as long as it is disclosed during controls and its usage is in accordance with the package leaflet.
At the end of April, you had a problem with WADA regarding a control, can you explain to us a little bit about the situation?
Lennert Van Eetvelt : “It was a difficult situation, I got an e-mail from the French anti-doping authorities where they asked for more explanation because something was found in my blood. It was pretty clear that the nasal spray was the cause, but they wanted some clarification. They just told me that there was no problem and that they were just asking questions. I mentioned, during the control that I was taking the nasal spray, as I have done before in my career, under medical supervision. I was really happy when they told me later that there was no problem, that everything was fine. But yes, having to go through something like that in my first year is not funny, but I had a lot of support from the team and some family and friends who contacted me and supported me, that’s really nice to hear. “
How important was it to have the team on your side in this situation?
Lennert Van Eetvelt: “As I said, I had the support of everyone. Mentally this can be very stressful, and during the period I was off racing it gave me more encouragement. I just wanted to push even harder after that and it gave me more motivation for the rest of the season.“
How are doping cases viewed and managed in Belgium?
Lennert Van Eetvelt : “I don’t remember so many cases in the last few years. It is a difficult situation because you must be really transparent about it, but also because everything is always easily misinterpreted, it is pretty hard to actually know what is going on and when it is a real problem. In my case, this became public because my team had to put me on non-active because of their membership with the MPCC. Luckily, the case was solved very fast, and I could race again after one month.”
How did you manage such sensitive cases?
Lennert Van Eetvelt: “People too easily assume the worst about everything. But yeah, I think if you are honest about everything, it turns out to be ok in the end. A lot of people still really believed. I was happy that people were still on my side in this story. And actually, I did not get a lot of bad reactions to my case. It was about asking questions, it was more about anti-doping. Even if something is found in the controls, it does not mean it is a problem. It was a difficult situation and I am very happy it ended. “
Sport goes far beyond trials and competitions. Every day athletes are challenged, both physically and mentally, and early in his career, Lennert Van Eetvelt has already experienced one of the biggest and most complex challenges of his life. Based on his recent experience, the Belgian athlete offers us two very important pieces of advice: On the one hand, let the situation unfold in a natural, non-judgmental way; On the other hand, be transparent in how you deal with it.
By following this advice, we can all contribute to cleaner cycling!
