Jurgen Van de Broeck was considered as one of the riders focused almost entirely on the Tour de France, but this may have to change in the upcoming year as Lotto-Belisol is openly disappointed with his performances throughout 2014 season.

 

Van den Broeck finished just outside the Tour de France podium on two occasions, in 2010 and 2012, but a bad crash during the 100th edition of the event forced him out of the race and effectively put the end to his season.

“We knew that 2014 would be a transition year after his very serious crash in the Tour last year,” team manager Marc Sergeant told Sporza.be. “After such a bad crash many riders have found it physically and mentally difficult to return.”

 

Finally overcoming knee injury, the 31-year old Belgian hoped to bounce back and targeted la Grande Boucle once again this year. Everything seemed to go right for the Lotto-Belisol rider as he performed strongly at the Criterium du Douphine, eventually finishing third, but he never managed to live up to high expectations as he faded quickly in French three-week event.

 

“[It was] a season of ups and downs. Unfortunately there was only one real up: third place in the Dauphiné,” Lotto-Belisol manager Marc Sergeant assessed Van den Broeck’s last performances.

 

Even though Lotto-Belisol manager made it clear that young sprinter Jens Debusschere and Maxime Monfort there their protected riders for the Vuelta a Espana, it was also very important, second chance for Van den Broeck to prove that he is still able to excel in three-week events.

 

“His intention was not to go for the GC but to win a stage.”

 

“At the start of the Vuelta, Jurgen still made a good impression on me, but that was soon over. When he gave up, there was nothing in his legs.”

 

The 31-year old Belgian, again, failed to perform in line with his team’s expectations in the Spanish race, which he eventually abandoned, what makes his appearance in next year’s edition of the Tour very questionable.

 

“I hope it will be better in 2015,” Sergeant said. “Must it absolutely be the Tour? I don’t know. The Giro and the Vuelta are also options. But first he must be ready for them....”