Development Eleven new talents for the Lotto Dstny Development Team, including Jarno Widar

The Lotto Dstny Development Team is already busy preparing the 2024 season as the Belgian continental squad has attracted eleven new talents for next year. With Jarno Widar (17), Kamiel Eeman (17) and Victor Vaneeckhoutte (17), three riders step up from the CC Chevigny – Crabbé Dakwerken team, the youth squad Lotto Dstny is working closely with. The 17-year-old Widar is one of Belgium’s biggest cycling talents and already impressed by winning the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and La Classique des Alpes Juniors. At the end of May, Widar also took the Belgian junior road title in Brasschaat. Jarno Widar will race in the U23 category for at least one year, in which the young Belgian can further develop himself.

With Steffen De Schuyteneer (18), Milan Donie (18) and Matys Grisel (18), Lotto Dstny welcomes three talents from the AG2R U19 team. De Schuyteneer won Gent-Wevelgem for juniors this year, Donie got third at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Frenchman Grisel triumphed at Paris-Roubaix.

Also the Belgian talents Mauro Cuylits (18), Milan De Ceuster (17), Tars Poelvoorde (17), Liam Van Bylen (18) and Thomas Vuerinckx (17) will ride for the Lotto Dstny Development Team next year.

“This year is marked by a really strong junior generation and we are really happy that we managed to convince several young talents to choose for the Lotto Dstny project”, says sports manager Kurt Van de Wouwer. “Also this year, our many years of expertise, varied race schedule and focus on preparing the next step seems to be an important factor in attracting youngsters. The cooperation with CC Chevigny – Crabbé Dakwerken is also paying off as there will be three riders being part of the Lotto Dstny Development Team next year.”

“With these eleven names, we have a solid mix of climbers, puncheurs, sprinters and Classics riders. We will have the winner of the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Jarno Widar) and Paris-Roubaix juniors (Matis Grysel) riding for the team next year, something we are really proud of. Like every year, the aim is to guide our youngsters in taking the next step with the ultimate goal of integrating them into our ProTeam.”

On Saturday 5 August, Steffen De Schuyteneer, Victor Vaneeckhoutte and Jarno Widar will defend the Belgian colours at the junior road race of the Glasgow world championships, Matys Grisel will be in action for the French squad.

Image: Facepeeters.