Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) is setting no limits on his third season within the skilled ranks, with desires of a win within the Flemish Classics, a profitable Grand Tour debut and a attainable Olympic berth for Paris 2024.
The Belgian dedicated his long-term future to Lotto-Dstny till 2026 in August as their headline rider and large hope for the approaching seasons at simply 21 years outdated.
“My fundamental purpose can be to have a pleasant Flemish spring. I am considering of top-10, top-5 within the massive races. And why not win in Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem or Omloop Het Nieuwsblad,” mentioned De Mislead Sporza.
“The Olympic Video games additionally curiosity me. It’s a course that ought to go well with me: an extended race with brief climbs.
“I am actually trying ahead to the Video games. It’s a very particular and prestigious occasion that solely takes place each 4 years. I wish to take part, however I do know that there are solely 4 locations and the tickets are subsequently costly. However I’ve already proven that I may also be a crew participant. I’ve already laid a number of playing cards on the desk, possibly I generally is a wild card later?”
On the European Championships, De Lie performed a selfless function for Belgium in assist of eventual runner-up Wout van Aert, giving every part to try to catch Christophe Laporte (France) and ending fourth himself up the Col du VAM.
De Lie has been nothing in need of a revelation in his first two skilled seasons, including one other 10 wins in 2023 to the 9 from the yr prior. This included a miraculous dash on one leg on the Famenne Ardenne Traditional and his first at WorldTour stage by the use of a strong dash from the again of the bunch on the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.
“My first World Tour victory in Québec might have extra sporting worth, however my victory within the Famenne Ardenne Traditional is personally my finest second of this season,” mentioned De Lie.
“There was an emotional cost to it as a result of my outdated membership organized that race, and plenty of of my supporters confirmed up.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 an enormous win, highlighting his unimaginable potential at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad after crashing, chasing again on and outsprinting the remainder of the sphere for second place with Dylan van Baarle (Jumbo-Visma), taking the solo win up the street.
“In 2023, I discovered learn how to reside as an expert,” mentioned De Lie. “In my first yr, I gave every part always. Now I can tempo myself higher and waste much less power.”
De Lie’s season was 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 Might. His bounce-back was fast, nevertheless, because it solely took him three days of racing to get again amongst the wins on the Tour de Wallonie.
The Walloon’s Grand Tour debut has been lengthy awaited as one of many sport’s high prospects. A lot of the not too long ago revealed Giro d’Italia route appears to go well with De Lie’s qualities as a punchier sprinter able to getting over hills, however its proximity to the Classics might push him for a run on the Tour de France or the Vuelta a España.
“I ought to just like the finishes within the Giro, but it surely comes too quickly after the Classics, and I am solely 21,” mentioned De Lie. “I need to go to a Grand Tour so I can instantly take a shot at a stage victory.
“If there are solely flat sprints within the Tour [de France], all the celebrities should be beneficial for me to have an opportunity. So I’ll make my selection relying on the Grand Tour course which appears most fitted for me.”
De Lie is Lotto-Dstny’s finest and solely dash possibility for the 2024 season, with Caleb Ewan returning to Australian house crew Jayco AlUla and will have the total assist of one of the best squad accessible to him whichever Grand Tour he lands on.