Arnaud de Lie: "My first pro-victory on Mallorca was special, but this one ranks even higher"

Lotto Soudal have a gem in development and with the existing infrastructure they have set up for Caleb Ewan, they are now being able to provide the support needed for neo-pro Arnaud De Lie, which has got a win in today's Grote Prijs Jean-Pierre Monseré.

“Of course I am super happy with this win. The goal of the team was to win today. It feels amazing to able to succeed. Without the great teamwork this would not have been possible. I really have to thank my teammates. They brought me to the finish line in perfect position. Jasper De Buyst did a great lead-out and after I went at 250 meters to go, I was able to finish the job. As a 19-year-old, it feels great to have the support of the entire team. This was the second time I could go for victory and for the second time I was able to get the win," De Lie said after the finish.

After taking a surprise win in the final race of the Mallorca Challenge, the Trofeo Palma, De Lie has came into the spotlight as one of the sprinters with the most potential in the peloton. The Belgian youngster is still 19, yet he has today taken his second win as a pro rider in Belgium and is helping the team net important points for their World Tour maintenance goal, despite the team seemingly not giving them much importance.

“What the following races will bring? We’ll see, I take it one race at a time. Without stress and by committing fully to racing. If I am able to get any more victories this year: even better. My first pro-victory on Mallorca was special, but this one ranks even higher. A victory in Belgium is always a bit more special," he concluded.

Over the next month De Lie is set to have a schedule stacked with Belgian classics as he will likely be a part of the team's cobbled classics block, but will also have his chances in smaller races such as the Nokere Koerse or the Bredene Koksijde Classic where he has the profile to be one of the favourites once again.