“It is clear that those cars are at fault" - Reason for Arnaud De Lie's frustrations after Le Samyn crash revealed

After crashing out at Le Samyn on Tuesday afternoon, pre-race favourite, Arnaud De Lie was a visibly frustrated figure, targeting his anger at the Lotto Dstny team car.

Speaking to Wielerflits post-race however, Lotto Dstny's Dirk Demol attempted to shed some light on just why the talented Belgian was in such a rage. “Arnaud had to change bikes on the last lap, at a time when it was still easy to do so. There was certainly no panic yet,” Demol outlines. “We moved on with the car and he switched bikes. He was just sitting among the cars and coming back. But then suddenly there is a car from the organization that stops in a bend. All cars must then stop behind it. Arnaud has to throw himself along the wagons and slips. An unfortunate maneuver.”

“It is clear that those cars are at fault. You don't stop in a bend, that's quite simple," Demol continues, strongly critical of the race organisation. "No, Arnaud was not furious with me. Why would he be mad at me? He was just very disappointed and angry with the cars that were standing still. I haven't seen him yet. I hope it remains just abrasions, but he still fell quite hard.”

With De Lie consigned to the team bus for the finale, it was his compatriot, Laurenz Rex that eventually prevailed in a tight photo-finish ahead of Antonio Morgado.