"In a bunch sprint today I have more to lose than to win" - Arnaud De Lie not expecting big role in finale of stage 2 at Paris-Nice

Arnaud De Lie was a favourite of many ahead of stage 1 at Paris-Nice 2024. Whilst many of the fast men did survive until the sprint however, De Lie was not among them.

"I'm not 100 percent. And if you're not 100 percent, it's impossible to perform here," De Lie admits to Sporza pre-stage 2, revealing he's still struggling with the after effects of his when he dramatically crashed out at Le Samyn recently.

With stage 2 of Paris-Nice more of a traditional, flat, bunch sprint day it's perhaps not De Lie's ideal territory to compete against the likes of Olav Kooij, Dylan Groenewegen and Mads Pedersen, but given the fact he's feeling less than his best, don't expect the Lotto Dstny star to play any role at all in the finale.

"In a bunch sprint today I have more to lose than to win. That's why I won't take any risks and recover," the Belgian analyses. "There is another nice stage this week. But my main goal this spring is the classics."