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Follow us on GoogleHe has the legs, he looks mentally sharp, and after two failed spring campaigns it finally seems as though Lotto-Intermarché have learned the right lessons in the Arnaud De Lie project. The 24-year-old Belgian began the winter on the back foot after an ankle injury, but everything and everyone around the Bull of Lescheret appears upbeat. So are all the lights finally green? IDLProCycling.com took a closer look.
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De Lie has been competing at WorldTour level since 2022, simply because he was that good as an under-23 rider. In his first year as a professional with Lotto, he immediately started winning among the elite as well, collecting a string of Belgian semi-classics. In 2023, both the races and the victories increased in stature, which meant that in 2024 the full focus shifted towards the spring Classics.
With 19 wins in his first two seasons as a pro, expectations were naturally high, but in both 2024 and 2025 De Lie followed a remarkably similar pattern: winning early in the year, raising expectations for spring, falling short in the Classics, going back to the drawing board, and then returning to winning ways in summer and autumn.
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De Lie has yet to impress after winter ankle injury
People were already close to talking De Lie into having a mental block, but Lotto-Intermarché always continued to protect their leader. When he needed rest, he was given rest. At those moments, De Lie would retreat to the family farm, recharge, and reset. Even so, his tally has risen to 33 victories in four professional seasons, which underlines just how much ability he has.
People were already close to talking De Lie into having a mental block, but Lotto-Intermarché always continued to protect their leader. When he needed rest, he was given rest. At those moments, De Lie would retreat to the family farm, recharge, and reset. Even so, his tally has risen to 33 victories in four professional seasons, which underlines just how much ability he has.
In truth, that run of bad luck continued after Tirreno-Adriatico, where De Lie did at least sprint to one second place, finishing just behind Tobias Lund Andresen. In GP Denain he may well have been one of the top favourites, but mechanical trouble and a puncture left him chasing back to the peloton three separate times. Under those circumstances, a good result was effectively out of reach.
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Why this spring could still be a success for De Lie
That leaves the big question: how good is De Lie really right now? In previous seasons, strong early results suggested top form, but when the major Classics arrived he failed to deliver physically and mentally. Now, with the results still missing in 2026, could that actually mean he is peaking better for the spring? De Lie himself sounded positive. “I feel good and I’m in a good place. I didn’t win in Tirreno, but I did finish second once,” he said.
“I have the feeling I’m in better shape than in previous years. That is definitely something positive,” the Belgian continued, pointing to his “good numbers” in Tirreno. In Denain, Lotto sports director Adrien Petit also struck an upbeat tone. “Arnaud was very unlucky today, but I’d rather see that happen here than in Roubaix. We’ll analyse those moments of bad luck, because he took risks by riding on the side of the cobbles.”
There is, however, little doubt about De Lie’s form this time around — and that is different from previous years. “He was very strong and he simply looks good. Arnaud has a lot of confidence, but we are not going to put pressure on him. We know what we have to do, and now we just hope the results come this spring.” That may be the key line around De Lie at the moment: the signs are encouraging, but the results still need to catch up with the feeling.
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - Un poco corto en la parte técnica de la bici de McNulty, no? Colnago nero con detalles arcoíris suena brutal — queremos más fotos, per favore.pedalpowe2902-10-2026
- - Demi finally gets her stripes! Team Oranje tactics on point again — recon, lead-out, and that patient regroup. Textbook. Chapeau.sprocketspiny02-10-2026
- - Wait, does the world champ jersey apply to all disciplines or just road race? Can McNulty wear it in a TT too, or is that only if he won the TT worlds?davidm02-10-2026
- - Brilliant coverage. The early flight back to beat jet lag is elite-level thinking. Those marginal gains matter before a punchy Euros course.samanthak02-10-2026
- - Not sure the “surprised everyone” line about McNulty is fair. He’s been knocking on the door all season in one-day races and TTs. Emilia in rainbows is going to slap.patriciaw02-10-2026
- - Love seeing the rainbow bands back on Slovenian roads. Demi looks sharp in that kit. Hope she gets a full custom bike soon, not just a tiny stripe under the seatpost. Come on, give the champ a proper paint job!cadencekingm02-10-2026
- - Quick one: why can’t McNulty wear the rainbow at Euros? Is it only for world champs from Europe or something about national teams vs trade teams?lindae02-10-2026
- - That Dutch masterclass was something else. Vollering timed that second move perfectly after the first dig didn’t stick. Proper teamwork — Wiebes and the crew deserve as much credit as Demi.julien02-10-2026
- - Boonen’s line about trusting teammates is gold. World’s is chess, not crit. Belgium tried to cover every scenario and covered none. Harsh lesson, but needed before next year.samanthak02-10-2026
- - Great read, but the piece leans a bit too harsh on Wout for me. He wasn’t at leader-level form, true, yet the team didn’t set up a plan B well enough. Segaert the bright spot, agreed.julien02-10-2026
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