"Today I did it like real sprinters" - Arnaud De Lie goes toe to toe with fastest men in peloton

Not much was expected of Arnaud De Lie coming into the Tour de France after a spring ruined by health problems. But the 23-year-old Belgian bounced back and rose to a podium finish in Châteauroux. Losing only to world-class sprinters Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan.

"If I'm told to do something, I try to do it," De Lie was very happy with his result when speaking to Sporza after stage 9. "The goal was to be on Milan and Merlier's wheel. But sprinting against those two is difficult. So I'm happy with my third place."

What also stood out was De Lie's sudden change of sprinting style. Normally, you won't see the Belgian sprint in the hoods, but today he tried something new: "Today I did it like real sprinters. So it's a nice way to end the day. I'm happy with the feeling. It went really well, even though it was a tough day with a strong breakaway. But in Châteauroux, it's always a sprint."  

Sports director Kurt Van de Wouwer was also beaming at the finish line. "Yesterday we were happy with fifth place. Today we're even happier with third place. When you see yourself being beaten by Merlier and Milan – who are the absolute top riders – you can only be satisfied."

And that victory wasn't too far either: "It was a half-bike difference. Along the way, you saw him at the front in the echelons. So it's good. He's come from a long way, of course. The Tour de Suisse was necessary to improve his fitness, but he didn't come here at 100 percent. Developing in the Tour de France isn't easy. But he's working on it anyway."

"If you look at today, he's coming off on strength. So if everything goes right, it's possible," the DS says about De Lie's chance to win a stage later in the race. "The next opportunity is the stage to Toulouse after the rest day. And then we'll see how we survive the Pyrenees before we plan further."