Arnaud De Lie bets on strong cooperation with Maxim Van Gils in Canada: "We complement each other very well"

Arnaud De Lie arrives to Canada as a defending champion of the GP Quebec. His victory was the more impressive that the Belgian sprinter to handle the finale mostly on his own. The Lotto Dstny rider believes lack of team support won't be an issue this time around.

Last year, De Lie showed in Canada that he could compete with the very best. "A victory like that in Québec gives you physical and mental confidence. With 300-400 meters to go, I was still very far behind, 25th or so: if you can still win, you immediately become more aware of your potential," he beams at HLN when talking about his triumph last year.

But the Belgian sprinter doesn't have to do it alone in Quebec this time. Maxim Van Gils has also made the Canadian diptych a goal. According to De Lie, they get along well. "We are both specialists in one-day races. And we complement each other: uphill he can follow the very best, and he is fast at the finish. I can finish it off in a larger group."

Moreover, the 22-year-old sprinter knows that it is nice to be able to count on someone in the final who can bring back attackers. "I can't go and get everyone in the final, because then I can't sprint anymore." While De Lie wants to strike in Quebec, he knows that the race in Montreal should suit Van Gils better again. "I want to help him there," he says.

De Lie expects a different kind of race this year than the previous edition. According to the sprinter of Lotto Dstny, this has everything to do with the presence of Tadej Pogacar. "If we are going to sprint again, I have to make sure that I am better positioned. But I will have to race more at the front from the start, because we expect a tougher race."