"If he improves he will continue to win all the races" - Arnaud De Lie on battle with Tadej Pogacar and the big goal for 2025
Cycling
Arnaud De Lie has been steadily growing in the peloton. Whilst he started off as a quality sprinter he has been proving himself to be more and more of a classics specialist. In 2025 he aims high for the cobbled classics, and he also talks about a duel he's had with Tadej Pogacar earlier this year.
"Good and bad things have happened, but I think it has been a good season for me," De Lie shared with Marca. "Without a doubt, the victory at the Belgian championship was a highlight. It is a title that allows you to ride in a very nice shirt all year round. I also look back happily on my debut in the Tour de France".
De Lie definitely had pressure on his shoulders after a superb 2022 and 2023, and the year started off bad which was not easy. But midway through the season he got the rhythm, and the nationals win was impressive taking into consideration he won a sprint in a group with the likes of Jasper Philipsen, Wout van Aert and Tim Merlier in a hilly race.
The Tour de France debut didn't see a major result but he showed good form, and right after he won the Tour of Denmark. The Lotto Dstny rider also won Binche-Chimay-Binche, but perhaps the most impressive victory of his year was the triumph in Geraardsbergen at the Renewi Tour, where he thrived in the very steep and cobbled climbs, followed Tim Wellens and then soared to a popular win. This gives him greater sense that he can perform in the punchy races of Flanders, despite his high weight.
He recalls also the GP de Québec, where he responded to an attack from Tadej Pogacar towards the end. "When Pogacar attacks it becomes clear that it is very difficult to follow him. I am lucky that I am not the same type of rider as him. Pogacar is the best and you need a great day to follow him," he argues. "He has a super level and if he improves he will continue to win all the races. It will remain a surprise and we will see what the coming year brings us".
For 2025, the initial objective is clear: "The goal is to arrive at the Flemish classics in the best possible shape. I hope to be able to ride the first classics in Valencia in a good way, where I will make my debut this year. I hope to arrive in Spain in good shape and to look for my highlight that should come in the spring classics".
Paris-Roubaix specifically is a big goal, perhaps the best suited monument to his abilities, but he knows that it will also require a lot of planning and tactics. "We have to follow Alpecin. They have won for two years in a row now and are the best team in Roubaix. The truth is that it is not that easy to stand behind Van Der Poel. Both Monuments are important, but there are classics such as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad or Gent-Wevelgem that are also nice goals for me," he concludes.
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026
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