Arnaud De Lie is finishing 2025 in spectacular style after
overcoming a frustrating first half of the season. The Belgian rider claimed
overall victory at the Renewi Tour, defeating Mathieu van der Poel in the
decisive final stage, and has now added another major win by triumphing at the
Bretagne Classic. Outsprinting Olav Kooij of Visma to the line, De Lie secured
his third victory of the year, continuing a run that has also seen him finish
on the podium in his last three races. For a rider still so young, it marks a
significant turnaround in fortunes.
Speaking to Cyclism’Actu, De Lie explained just how much the
victory meant to him. "It's always a very tough sprint in Plouay. The
timing of my attack today was perfect, I'm happy to have been able to win. It's
one of my favorite races on the calendar. I also want to thank my teammates for
their work all day. In the last editions, I may have overdone it, but this
time, I rode intelligently. I just followed the big moves on the climb, and
stayed in the big groups. In the finale, I followed Olav Kooij's wheel, and I
managed to pass him. I've been on the podium in my last three races, it's a
really crazy end to the year."
The Lotto leader described the run of form as a dream come
true. “I’m living in a dream, enjoying every single moment,” he said in a team
press release. “This is really a crazy season finale for me.” His joy was
matched by praise for his teammates and his revised approach to racing. “It’s
always a tough sprint here, but today the timing was just perfect,” he added.
“My teammates did a fantastic job. I’m very happy to win here. This is one of
my favorite races on the calendar.”
He also credited the role of Jenno Berckmoes in shaping the
team’s strategy in the closing stages. “In previous years, I always raced
aggressively here, but today I had to be smart: follow on the climbs and leave
the tactical decisions in the finale to Jenno Berckmoes. That worked out
perfectly. I’m just really, really happy.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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