"As a precaution, he will stay at the hotel" - Arnaud De Lie's Tour de France already in doubt as he misses Team Presentation with illness
CyclingFriday, 03 July 2026 at 09:23
Arnaud De Lie's Tour de France is already in doubt before it's even started as his Lotto–Intermarché team confirmed that he's suffering with stomach problems and missed Thursday evening's Team Presentation.
As the 23 teams set to ride the 2026 Tour de France were publicly unveiled under the backdrop of Barcelona's iconic La Sagrada Familia, there was one rider notably missing in the build-up to Saturday's team time trial - De Lie.
Ahead of the presentation, Lotto announced that the Belgian sprinter would not be present, and will be staying at his hotel to recuperate from stomach problems just days before the Tour.
A team statement confirmed the news: "Arnaud De Lie is suffering from a stomach upset and will not attend tonight’s Tour de France team presentation."
It continued: "As a precaution, he will stay at the hotel to rest and recover, with the aim of being fully ready for the start of the Tour de France on Saturday. Let's wish Arnaud the quickest recovery."
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The news will serve as an all too familiar reminder for both De Lie and Lotto. The 24-year-old missed the team presentation at the Giro d'Italia for a similar reason, and will be hoping he doesn't suffer the same fate in the race itself.
De Lie's Giro d'Italia nightmare
In the Giro, De Lie's race was completely derailed by a severe stomach bug caused by cow manure contracted at the Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic. The illness ultimately forced him to abandon the race during Stage 4.
The Belgian did bounce back after the Giro, winning a stage at the Tour de Wallonie in a brutal reminder to the fast men of his abilities when fit and healthy.
The sprinter is out of contract at the end of the season, and is reportedly on his way out of the team. The team's Tour selection has led to questions around their support of De Lie.
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Speaking on RTBF’s On connaît nos classiques, Rodrigo Beenkens questioned whether Lotto-Intermarché have given De Lie the support required to turn those near misses into a victory.
“When you look at this selection, I still wonder who is going to protect Arnaud, who has still had eight top-fives in two Tours,” said Beenkens. “At some point, for him to be able to win, he first has to be well positioned and possibly well launched. On paper, we do not get the impression that he is being protected.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- My username is a play on his. Perhaps, it's also time for me to move on from cycling news.
KerisVroom03-07-2026 - Can't blame him for hanging on. Those sweet, sweet $$$ are too enticing.KerisVroom03-07-2026
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- Well knock me down with a feather!Lozza02-07-2026
- Go Pogi! ❤️Lozza02-07-2026
- I’ve always wondered if Chris Froome doped. He looked superhuman in some of his TdF races. But the new man on the throne is even better. The new Terminator !! I’m ready to be amazed at this year’s TdF again.
PogiFan2Day02-07-2026 - the king of mue'swhkman02-07-2026
- Horner is the greatest advisor no team wants to have.🤣abstractengineer02-07-2026
- If he suddenly becomes better after changing his coach, he will probably kick himself for not having changed teams in 2022abstractengineer02-07-2026
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