'A major setback' - Lotto-Intermarché down to four riders at the Giro d'Italia as leader crashes out

Lotto-Intermarché has suffered a significant blow at the 2026 Giro d’Italia as their leader Lennert van Eetvelt was forced to abandon the race following a crash on stage 11. Van Eetvelt, who had been active and ambitious throughout the race, encountered trouble on a descent with around 40 kilometres remaining. The crash also involved riders Filippo Zana and Christian Scaroni, but while Scaroni managed to recover and finish strongly, Van Eetvelt was unable to maintain his position and ultimately finished 50th before withdrawing due to injury. Medical assessments revealed that Van Eetvelt sustained abrasions and a broken middle finger on his left hand, injuries severe enough to rule him out of continuing the Giro. This development is a major setback not only for the Belgian rider but also for Lotto-Intermarché, who now face the challenge of competing with a significantly depleted squad. The team, which began the race with eight riders, has already lost several key members due to illness and earlier crashes, leaving just four riders to contest the remaining stages. The reduced team size puts Lotto-Intermarché at a disadvantage in the strategic and physical demands of the Giro, where depth and support are crucial. Van Eetvelt had been seen as a strong contender and a rider with potential to make an impact on multiple stages, building on a breakthrough 2024 season that included a notable victory at the UAE Tour. His withdrawal not only diminishes the team’s chances of stage success but also impacts their broader ambitions in the race. Lotto-Intermarché’s remaining riders—Toon Aerts, Lorenzo Rota, Jonas Rutsch, and Simone Gualdi—will now have to shoulder the responsibility of representing the team in the closing stages. The team’s management acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, describing Van Eetvelt’s exit as a “major setback.” With the Tour de France also on Van Eetvelt’s calendar later in the year, the focus will now shift to recovery and preparation for future objectives, while Lotto-Intermarché recalibrates its strategy for the remainder of the Giro.