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Arnaud De Lie shares story of how Patrick Lefevere landed a helicopter in his backyard - "I said: it's not true, is it?"
CyclingTuesday, 19 December 2023 at 20:30
At the Giro d'Italia, Soudal - Quick-Step famously used a helicopter after stage 7 at Gran Sasso d'Italia to cut the transition time for their main riders. That has since been banned, but Arnaud de Lie tells another story of how team manager Patrick Lefevere has visited him at home... in a helicopter.
“Patrick has been following me since I was a newcomer or junior. But as a first-year junior, I had already signed a contract with Lotto in November. So I said: sorry, I have already signed with the under-23's of Lotto and maybe in 2022 with the pros. But he still came to see me once or twice," De Lie reveals in the Live Slow Ride Fast podcast. Despite being only 21 years old, he's an absolute leader at Lotto Dstny, and his talent was not unknown to Lefevere. So much so that within the past few years, the two have met several times.
Besides talks, he tells how Lefevere has visited him at home - De Lie lives in a farm, and that got Lefevere to pop an interesting question. “He came by twice. Once in 2022 and once this year, in 2023. That first time he sent me a message and asked if he could call me. On the phone he asked: 'Arnaud, is it possible to come by helicopter?'"
"He asked in French and he has a bit of an accent. So I tell him, “Sorry, I didn't understand.” He had to say it two or three times. I asked: 'By helicopter?' 'Yes,' he said. 'Is there room for me to land my helicopter?' Of course there was room for me to land here on the farm. I first saw the dog, he was super surprised. Then it was 'putain', there is the helicopter. He came flying straight ahead. I said: 'it's not true, is it?' Patrick came up with a great project, but the problem is that I have a lot of men at Lotto that I trust."
Despite Lefevere's efforts to impress the youngster, and the offer of a solid position within a team with immense history in the races where De Lie hopes to perform his best, a deal was not agreed on. Arnaud De Lie became a proven winner as soon as he turned pro with the Belgian team, who has done all the efforts to ensure he stays.
The Belgian is also aware that if he were to move to Soudal - Quick-Step he'd have to share leadership duties, not only with other sprinters and classics riders, but Remco Evenepoel whom the team is working to support as best as possible. "The team also has a different structure and I am still young. Remco is also there at Quick-Step, the atmosphere is different... And Quick-Step's project was no more beautiful than Lotto's.”
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