Patrick Lefevere criticises Lotto management amid Arnaud De Lie struggles: “That would never have happened in our team”

It’s been a difficult start to 2025 for Arnaud De Lie. Once hailed as the future of Belgian cycling, the Lotto rider has so far failed to hit the heights expected of him this season. And now, one of the most influential voices in Belgian cycling has weighed in.

Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, former Soudal – Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere didn’t hold back in his assessment of both De Lie’s situation and the wider management at Lotto.

“That would never have happened in our team,” said Lefevere, referencing the challenges De Lie is currently facing. “With today's knowledge, I dare say that the problems De Lie is now facing would have been much less of an issue in our team. I will not claim to know all the subtleties or intrigues, but I do note that Arnaud single-handedly – or almost single-handedly – carries the weight of the Lotto team.”

Lefevere believes the team is too dependent on the 23-year-old, particularly given the lack of consistent support from other riders on the squad.

“Take him away and at the moment only Lennert Van Eetvelt remains. That is too much weight on the shoulders of a rider of barely 23 years old.”

He also raised concerns about the pressures associated with high salaries at a young age, suggesting that financial expectations could be weighing on De Lie’s form.

“I don’t know what De Lie earns and I don’t need to know, but I do know the bid we made at the time. That was already a lot of money and I can only assume that Lotto went even higher. In my experience I have never known anything other than that riders get into trouble when there is an imbalance between what they perform and what they earn.”

“Riders feel that pressure, even though the salary after signing the contract is in principle an acquired right. I fear that we have also ended up there with De Lie.”

Lefevere didn’t stop there. In typically blunt fashion, he also took aim at the Lotto leadership.

“Anyone who knows me knows that the Lotto triumvirate of Jannie Haek, Stéphane Heulot and Kurt Van de Wouwer is not in the top hundred of my favorite dinner guests. Let's just say that we are different characters.”

Despite the criticism, Lefevere insists his concern stems from the importance of Lotto within Belgian cycling, and the consequences of their continued struggles.

“I hope so for the Lotto team as well. Apart from the people who call the shots, it is a shame that a team that has existed for so long and that works so well with the youth only makes the news for the wrong reasons. No victories, no new co-sponsor, the leader out of the race. I do not take any malicious pleasure in it. A healthy Lotto team is still very important for Belgian cycling.”