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