"Expectations are high and when you arrive here ill again, it is certainly not pleasant": Arnaud De Lie survives difficult second stage as Lotto hopes for gradual recovery
Cycling
Arnaud De Lie endured another difficult day at the Tour de France but remained in the race after finishing the second stage well behind the peloton. The Belgian dropped with 80 kilometres remaining and reached the finish in Barcelona accompanied by teammate Baptiste Veistroffer, who waited to support him as planned.
Lotto focused on De Lie's physical and mental recovery
Lotto had anticipated De Lie would struggle on the demanding and hot stage after arriving at the Tour while recovering from illness. The team confirmed that he eventually finished within the time limit and hopes his condition will improve over the coming days despite another challenging route ahead.
Sports director Kurt Van de Wouwer said De Lie's performance was largely expected under the circumstances. "That was naturally to be expected. Under normal circumstances on this course and with this heat, he would also have suffered."
"Everything went pretty much as we expected. He finished within the time limit, which was never going to be a problem today. We had Baptiste Veistroffer wait for him as planned."
Arnaud De Lie on stage 1 of the 2026 Tour de France
Big expectations from the fans
Van de Wouwer acknowledged the mental pressure facing the Belgian, who has struggled to rediscover his best form. "He is only human."
"There is a lot of pressure on him from the supporters and the media. Expectations are high and when you arrive here ill again, it is certainly not pleasant for that young man."
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Despite the setbacks, Lotto remains optimistic that De Lie can recover as the race progresses. "The time trial yesterday went reasonably well and today he finished safely. We hope he recovers over the coming days."
"When he had to get off the bike during yesterday's recon, that was a difficult moment. We left him alone for about half an hour and then talked to him. Mentally, he is doing okay now."
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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