Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) is environment no limits on his 3rd season within the skilled ranks, with goals of a win within the Flemish Classics, a a success Grand Excursion debut and a imaginable Olympic berth for Paris 2024.
The Belgian dedicated his long-term long term to Lotto-Dstny till 2026 in August as their headline rider and enormous hope for the approaching seasons at simply 21 years previous.
“My major purpose will probably be to have a pleasing Flemish spring. I am pondering of top-10, top-5 within the giant races. And why now not win in Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem or Omloop Het Nieuwsblad,” stated De Mislead Sporza.
“The Olympic Video games additionally hobby me. This is a direction that are supposed to swimsuit me: a protracted race with quick climbs.
“I am in reality taking a look ahead to the Video games. This is a very particular and prestigious match that simplest takes position each 4 years. I wish to take part, however I do know that there are simplest 4 puts and the tickets are subsequently pricey. However I’ve already proven that I will be able to even be a crew participant. I’ve already laid a number of playing cards at the desk, possibly I will be able to be a wild card later?”
On the Ecu Championships, De Lie performed a selfless position for Belgium in strengthen of eventual runner-up Wout van Aert, giving the entirety to take a look at and catch Christophe Laporte (France) and completing fourth himself up the Col du VAM.
De Lie has been not anything wanting a revelation in his first two skilled seasons, including any other 10 wins in 2023 to the 9 from the yr prior. This integrated a miraculous dash on one leg on the Famenne Ardenne Vintage and his first at WorldTour stage by means of a formidable dash from the again of the bunch on the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.
“My first International Excursion victory in Québec will have extra carrying price, however my victory within the Famenne Ardenne Vintage is for my part my highest second of this season,” stated De Lie.
“There used to be an emotional price to it as a result of my previous membership arranged that race, and plenty of of my supporters confirmed up. That I additionally broke my pedal and crossed the road on one leg …”
He additionally excelled within the Dash Classics with out notching a large win, highlighting his improbable possible at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad after crashing, chasing again on and outsprinting the remainder of the sphere for 2nd position with Dylan van Baarle (Jumbo-Visma), taking the solo win up the street.
“In 2023, I realized the best way to are living as a qualified,” stated De Lie. “In my first yr, I gave the entirety always. Now I will be able to tempo myself higher and waste much less power.”
De Lie’s season used to be now not with out incident as a fractured sternum, rib, and collarbone took him out of racing for over a month after crashing closely on the 4 Jours de Dunkerque in Would possibly. His bounce-back used to be fast, on the other hand, because it simplest took him 3 days of racing to get again among the wins on the Excursion de Wallonie.
The Walloon’s Grand Excursion debut has been lengthy awaited as one of the crucial recreation’s peak possibilities. A lot of the lately printed Giro d’Italia course turns out to fit De Lie’s qualities as a punchier sprinter in a position to getting over hills, however its proximity to the Classics might push him for a run on the Excursion de France or the Vuelta a España.
“I will have to just like the finishes within the Giro, but it surely comes too quickly after the Classics, and I am simplest 21,” stated De Lie. “I wish to cross to a Grand Excursion so I will be able to right away take a shot at a level victory.
“If there are simplest flat sprints within the Excursion [de France], all of the stars should be beneficial for me to have an opportunity. So I can make my selection relying at the Grand Excursion direction which turns out most fitted for me.”
De Lie is Lotto-Dstny’s highest and simplest dash choice for the 2024 season, with Caleb Ewan returning to Australian house crew Jayco AlUla and will have to have the whole strengthen of the most efficient squad to be had to him whichever Grand Excursion he lands on.