"I don't know if I'm ready to compete" admits Arnaud De Lie as he returns from Lyme Disease at Famenne Ardennes Classic

For the first time since Gent Wevelgem, over a month ago, Lotto Dstny's Arnaud De Lie is back racing this Sunday afternoon at the Famenne Ardennes Classic.

“It's always difficult when you can't race, but I've now put that behind me," the talented Belgian reflects of his month-long break from the peloton as he battled Lyme Disease. "There is some extra experience in my backpack. Mentally it wasn't great, but it's getting better. I don't know if I'm ready to compete today, but it's always nice to pin on a jersey number again.”

Although De Lie understandably is unlikely to retain the title he won last year, given his recent struggles, Lotto Dstny do have another option to take the win. "We have two nice cards to play with, also with Maxim Van Gils," De Lie explains. "Maxim has had a great Classics Spring."

“I am now approaching it one course at a time. Today it is time for the Famenne Ardenne Classic and then two competitions will follow (Grand Prix du Morbihan and Tro-Bro Léon, ed.) in France," De Lie concludes, reserved about his own chances. "We'll see how the form goes.”