“We don't want to rush him" - Lotto Dstny trying to keep the hype around Arnaud De Lie to a minimum

Lotto Dstny's 20-year-old starlet Arnaud De Lie is backed by many to become one of the best riders of his generation. According to Kurt Van de Wouwer, De Lie "never starts completely without ambition.”

After De Lie did nothing to quieten the expectations around him by taking victory in his season opener in Valencia last Sunday, Lotto Dstny's team manager Kurt Van de Wouwer is trying his best to keep the hype around his future star to a minimum.

“We don't want to rush him. For that reason he will only drive Kuurne in the opening weekend," says Van de Wouwer to Het Nieuwsblad. "He now wins his first race and we are all very happy about that, but it is no reason to immediately start tinkering with the rest of his program.”

“He has gained a few percent more,” Van de Wouwer continues. “It is now easier to digest slopes. Partly due to his program last year, he has received even more content. In a race like Sunday's (in Valencia) Arnaud is really at the start with the ambition to win. If that doesn't work, he'll be disappointed. In Paris-Roubaix and Milano-Sanremo, that approach will be different. Not 'We want to win', but ' We'll see how far we get'. Of course, Arnaud remains Arnaud. He never starts completely without ambition”