Arnaud De Lie rides to Tro-Bro Léon victory despite multiple punctures: "We had to chase continuously, but I remained calm"

Arnaud De Lie has won the French one-day race Tro-Bro Léon. The 22-year-old Lotto Dstny rider won in a sprint from a reduced group. The farmer's son what some would consider a perfect gift as race's special prize - a live piglet to take home.

"After my first flat tire I had no idea where I was in the race, but I kept riding. When I came back to the front, I attacked for the first time to make a small selection. But afterwards I had another puncture. We had to chase continuously, but the team did very well, and I remained very calm. You know you can come back in these types of races," he told Het Nieuwsblad.

Then, on gravel sector of La Ferme, De Lie accelerated again. "I still felt very good, and that's why I attacked again. So we came out ahead with three. We worked well together, but another group came back. Afterwards I also remained super calm in the sprint: I did not make the same mistake as last year, did not start sprinting from the lead position. When I started, I felt that I still had very good legs."

After a disappointing cobblestone spring, he seems to be gradually returning to his old level. "This gives me great pleasure. This race is close to my heart. The condition is coming back very well."