The biggest challenger to Eli Iserbyt this season seems to be Quinten Hermans, who is reaping the benefits of his road season. He not only drove the Amstel Gold Race, the Walloon Arrow and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but also made his debut in the Giro. An adventure that Eli Iserbyt should also consider?
“We must not forget that Quinten Hermans was already very strong two years ago,” says Jurgen Mettepenningen, manager of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal. “Last year he was not at level due to an injury.”
“But Eli might be someone who could use a grand lap to increase his engine size. The question is how far do we need to go with that story. And how much does Eli want it for himself?”
“If Eli would indicate that he wants to ride a grand tour, we are interested in making the team procontinental. But then Michael Vanthourenhout and Laurens Sweeck, among others, must also go along with that story.”
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Mettepenningen makes no bones about it: those conversations are already taking place. “It is not because you are a procontinental team that you can just ride the Tour of Italy tomorrow. It will not be that easy.”
“But the talks have started. Eli is a topper and you have to take care of that. If he indicates that he wants to take that step, you have to pay attention to it. And then we will see with our sponsors how far we can go with that.” story.”
Isn’t a loan from Iserbyt during the summer an interim solution? “That could just happen, but I’m not a big proponent of it,” concludes Mettepenningen. “Then I prefer to take matters into my own hands and see for myself how far we can go with our own structure.”
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So the ball is in Eli Iserbyt’s court. In our podcast The Tribune, the European cyclocross champion was encouraged to consider some more trips to the road. Or why not to mountain bike?
“When he drives on the road, he often does well. For example, he was in the extensive leading group at the Belgian Championships last year, which lasted until the end”, Wim De Coninck recalled.
“On certain courses he has the potential to excel. He will never become a cobblestone tamer, but uphill he must be able to mean something with his lightweight and his great power.”
The answer will have to come from Iserbyt itself, as Mettepeninngen already indicated. “Maybe Iserbyt should also think about mountain biking if he doesn’t see the road. When you see what he did in the mud and uphill on the Koppenberg”, Carl Berteele hinted.
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