"De Lie will bring them back to the WorldTour" - Jose De Cauwer confident that Lotto Dstny have found their new star

There's very little doubt that Arnaud de Lie is currently one of the hottest prospects in all of the cycling world. After 3 wins already this season, a contract extension for the young Belgian should be front and centre of Lotto Dstny's plans according to José De Cauwer.

"I will not say that he will do it alone, but in principle De Lie will bring them back to the WorldTour," De Cauwer explains to De Tribune.  "If you play fast, you would have to pay him millions to hold him and that's how you know he's staying. You could, as it were, pay him in advance, otherwise you will lose him, although that is also a risk."

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The high potential of Arnaud De Lie is nothing new to De Cauwer. The 73-year-old Belgian was first introduced to his younger compatriot when De Lie was just 18. "Two years ago, Wim Vansevenant (ex-rider and father of Mauri Vansevenant, ed.) said to me: 'I've seen one in the juniors and he's going to be world class.'"

"I then started to follow him. We really know him since last year and it is as if he has become even better. You can also see that he is already a bit sharper," he continues. "There is still so much room for it. He will still surprise us, even now in the spring."

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