The rise of Arnaud De Lie allowed his three years older brother Axel to revive his dream of turning pro as well. Despite putting in the work in Lotto Dstny's development team for last two years, the results didn't come and at the age of 25, the brain won over heart and the Belgian champion's brother will switch to a new role out of saddle in years to come.
"You have easy and less easy decisions," he begins his farewell post on Instagram. "The most important thing is to understand them and know why we make certain decisions. I can look back on two great seasons at Lotto Dstny. I lived in a dream for two years, but my level is not high enough to make it come true as a professional cyclist," Axel looks in the mirror.
"I tried and I don't regret it, but the faith was gone. I have to thank all the people who always supported me. Thank you also to everyone I was able to meet, the places I was able to visit and the competitions I was able to participate in. Everyone, thank you!"
Axel De Lie is putting the dream of becoming a professional cyclist out of his mind, but he will certainly not leave cycling. "I grabbed the opportunity that presented itself with both hands and now it is time to seize the next opportunity. I am leaving the professional peloton, but not the cycling world. That is really not an option for me. The cycling world is so big that there is room for many people."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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