Philippe Gilbert on Arnaud De Lie’s struggles: “He doesn’t really listen to the people around him”
Cycling
Arnaud De Lie’s start to the 2025 season has been far from
smooth. The Belgian champion has struggled to find the form that saw him shine
in 2024, and even parted ways with his trainer recently. As questions swirl
about what’s gone wrong, former teammate Philippe Gilbert has offered a frank
assessment.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Gilbert, who rode
alongside De Lie at Lotto previously, pulled no punches. “He doesn’t really
listen to the people around him,” he said.
Gilbert believes De Lie’s training habits are at the root of
the issue. “He's going through a tough time, so I don't want to take too much
credit off of him. But if I look at his Strava, I don't see enough long
training sessions. I did at least six and a half hours every week. That's why I
was always good in the longer races.
“You can say a lot about Dirk De Wolf, but he played a big
part in that. He left his house at six in the morning to be here at nine. And
then we were on the road together for six hours."
"That was discipline: we didn't eat for the last four
hours. Honestly, I was completely exhausted. Sometimes I had to get in the car
for the last ten kilometers because I was completely exhausted. And at the end
of the training I was so hungry that I could eat the flowers on the table
here."
Gilbert also points to a lack of focus in De Lie’s current
approach. “Arnaud has to decide for himself whether he wants to remain a
sprinter or become a real classic rider. There has to be a clear line. Also in
his training. Now I see him training one day in Spain, then in Namur… I wonder:
what do you do?”
He stressed the importance of precision and planning,
reflecting on his own meticulous approach. “Every move costs time and energy. I
spent two or three hours with the team’s logistics manager each season to plan
all my flights. Even the taxi rides to the airport. Everything to lose as
little rest as possible with moves. In my peak years, that was really all I
did: train, race, rest.”
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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