Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) has said while he deeply regretted his early celebration at the end of Vuelta stage 4 today, which instantly turned to frustration, he believed he would have other chances before the race was over.
Having just turned 23-years-old, Van Eetvelt was among the best three climbers on the summit finish today, along with Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) and Enric Mas (Movistar Team). And having already won the final stage, and overall, at UAE Tour this year - before injury halted his progress - he looks very much back on track.
He nearly won the summit finish stage today only to celebrate too soon as Roglič came storming through around the outside to snatch the victory from him. Roglič, given just how fast he finished, may have won the stage anyway.
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But Van Eetvelt was frustrated with himself at the finish and clearly thought he was about to win the stage only to see it snatched away right on the line. He said his eagerness to celebrate prematurely was "a kind of stupid thing to do, but there will be more opportunities".
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“Did I think I had won when I made that arm movement? Yes,” he told reporters at the finish. “That's something you learn as a rookie, that you have to sprint right to the line, and not before it.
"I didn't sense Roglič was coming up, though, so I more or less thought I had the victory. What did I feel? Did you hear me shout? That's what I felt," he added. However, he also said he was very happy with the form that saw him climb so well and put him in such close contention for victory on the first summit finish.
“For sure, I can be more than happy with the form I had and with how the race went today. If I had been beaten in a different way, it would also have been a really nice result. But now it hurts a bit. I think in a couple of days I can be pleased with this result.
“I came here for GC and this is good confirmation of my condition. It will give me and the team confidence to go for it in the Vuelta. Of course I also have a sour feeling right now. But there are still plenty of days to come and if you see where I am in the rankings. I can only be happy."
