Arnaud De Lie: "I love the winning feeling, I want to keep on going like this"

Lotto Soudal rider Arnaud De Lie took his first stage victory in Tour de Wallonie. He defeated Biniam Girmay in the sprint to secure the gold.

“It is really special to win in Wallonia for the first time,” said De Lie. He continues, “Of course, I had marked this stage beforehand and yesterday, I gained confidence for today on the tough Ardennes course between Verviers and Herve. Today would normally suit me a bit better and the team made sure it would be a sprint on this tough course. Sébastien Grignard did a great job to keep the breakaway within reach. Afterward, the guys did a great sprint preparation and Jasper De Buyst guided me to the win.”

It's his seventh victory this season, and the rider hopes to add more. “I love the winning feeling, and it is great to get my seventh win today. I would already have been happy with one victory this season, so this exceeds all expectations. Everything that still comes now is a bonus, so to speak. But of course, I want to keep on going like this,” concluded De Lie. He currently holds 73rd position in GC, 12 minutes and 19 seconds behind overall leader Robert Stannard.