Finding. Mauri Vansevenant continues his career at Lotto-Intermarché. WielerFlits announces it on 20 October. Professional since the summer of 2020, at Deceuninck-Quick-Step. Earlier this year, he learned he could look for a new team. He has found one. The file is complete.
Stated reason. “This is where I see my future. I believe as strongly in the character of the team as in the project. Not the big crowd, but the family feel,” he told WielerFlits. I reread the rulebook. In it, a team is a structure, registered, with a name and a level. The family feel does not appear. I do not strike it out. I file it as an annex.
Attachment. His father, Wim, rode for years for Davitamon-Lotto, the predecessor of the current team. I note the line of descent between two structures. The one between two riders is not in my column.
Articles.
Firstly. Lotto-Intermarché was looking for experienced climbers to support Jarno Widar. The rider says he is ready, after seven years at the highest level, to support the younger generation. Demand and supply match. Compliant.
Secondly. Objectives: a stage win in a Grand Tour, which he says he still believes in, and the Walloon classics as a priority, including the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I register them. An objective is not a classification.
Thirdly. The CEO, Jean-François Bourlart, states: “With his attacking way of racing, Mauri fits our team perfectly. He will be an important reinforcement, especially in the Ardennes classics.” Attacking, I know it. At the top of the Mur de Huy, the climb ten minutes from my home, I stand with my back to the riders, see the attackers go past and note the time. I do not note the style.
Fourthly. The rider adds that a fresh dose of hunger to prove himself is always good in a career. Hunger cannot be measured by the metre. I have no box for it.
Myriam, the family feel is the team car. File it under bidons.
Verdict. Compliant. I do not note that I read the sentence about the family feel twice.
It’s true, we checked: WielerFlits.
