"We didn't receive any help from other teams": Arnaud De Lie delivered perfectly to take his first win of the season

Arnaud De Lie had to wait until May, but the 24-year-old Belgian finally got to celebrate his first victory of the season at the Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic. The race had a rather thrilling finale with a three-man breakaway hanging on ahead of peloton until the final 300 meters, but in the sprint of reduced peloton, De Lie found no equal and reminded everyone of his qualities. The podium was completed by Jens Verbrugghe (NSN Development Team) and Matteo Moschetti (Pinarello Q36.5 Cycling Team).

"I'm very happy," the Lotto-Intermarché rider exuded happiness at all directions at the finish line. But as dominant as was his victory, he might've been sprinting for merely a fourth place, if it weren't for a superb work done by his teammates in final kilometers to close the gap.

A three-man group consisting of continental team riders Filippo d'Aiuto (General Store - Essegibi - F.Lli Curia), Ryan Gal (Metec - SOLARWATT p/b Mantel) and Stijn Appel (BEAT CC p/b Saxo) came close to a miracle outcome of the race after a phenomenal effort from the trio, even though they ended up broken-hearted.

"I was very lucky as the breakaway almost went all the way," De Lie admitted that the situation was far from ideal pre-race scenarios. "We took control with the team throughout the race. In the end, we finished with the victory, so it's great for both the team and me. When you're a sprinter and you can't put it away, it's complicated. So it's very satisfying."

Despite a mediocre season, De Lie's appearance on home roads put all competing teams on high alert. And that's also why Lotto-Intermarché were left to control the race all on their own by other formations.

"It wasn't about managing the race at all. We didn't receive any help from any other team until the last lap. They were trying to play poker," De Lie complained a little bit, before showering his colleagues with praise: "My teammates did an exceptional job. Cycling remains tactical."

On the other hand, his job in last kilometer didn't require much tactics, just pedalling: "A sprint is about instinct, and I had it on Sunday," he adds. "I really waited to attack because I saw that the wind was definitely in my face. The last 100 meters felt very long. I really came here for the confidence boost. Winning is the best boost for the upcoming races."