With Pogacar and van der Poel on the startlist, Arnaud de Lie won't even return to Milano-Sanremo - "I don’t stand a chance"
Cycling
Milano-Sanremo is the first monument of the season and every year it attracts a luxurious startlist. However, less and less there are sprinters present as it has become a race more guided towards the classics specialists and even the climbers. A few riders, as is the case with Arnaud de Lie, are not even taking to the start because they don't believe in victory in a race where Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel are going to be at their best.
The leader of Lotto-Intermarché is also a heavy absence from the race, as a rider who would on paper be perfectly fit for the race. Whilst being a sprinter, de Lie's results have often come across as more of a classics specialist, well suited to the Flemish classics, but capable also of dealing with the shorter climbs of the Ligurian coast. He raced Sanremo only in 2023, not having a spot amongst the best however.
Whilst he is a more mature rider at the moment, capable of fighting for a top result or even winning if a scenario such as 2024 (when Jasper Philipsen won out of a reduced sprint), the Belgian doesn't believe he can do so with the race now expected to detonate on the Cipressa. Tadej Pogacar has not won the race yet, and the penultimate climb of the day is the best suited for attacks, which is the scenario that played out last spring.
De Lie has said this in words to Het Laatste Nieuws: “Unless Pogacar and Van der Poel call in sick five days beforehand," he joked. "I think I’m making the right choice".
Belgian wants wins, not Top10's
De Lie has not had the ideal start to the season, having to delay his debut due to health issues; however with his start at the Clasica de Almeria, he already put in a satisfying performance in his own words. He will be racing the Opening Weekend in a week's time; but his spring will be built around the cobbled classics, not the Italian monument.
The reason is quite simple: "I have to be realistic: with them on the start line I don’t stand a chance. They ride the Cipressa a minute faster than the rest. Milano–Sanremo is a lost day for me. It’s pointless". The Belgian admits he could put in a good result in the race, but he continues to carry the sprinter's mentality, focusing on wins above all. "A top ten is nice, but it doesn’t do much for me beyond that," he justifies.
"Right now I get more satisfaction from a win — for example two days earlier at GP Denain. Maybe one day I’ll go back, but… everything in its time. And if it never happens again, I won’t lose sleep over it. There are worse things in life," he concluded.d
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026 - Indeed! A reluctant gift maybe. Even more reluctant gift from Roglic! Tho I can’t see that Rog would have beaten Ving anyway.Lozza14-11-2026
- That really nasty crash in 2022 Liege must have played a big part - broken ribs, pneumothorax. You only have to look at his points tallies pre and post.Lozza14-11-2026
- Yeah, good luck getting tv and race organisers like ASO etc to part with their cash!Lozza14-11-2026
- 36 and Ineos have bought a rider on the downward slope. Bring back Dave and Rob who could manage the team. How are Ineos going to win a grand tour with people past their sell by date.paultryan200214-11-2026
- Mmmm would he be making these comments when he was on the richest team when riding. I think not i suspect. If we want money put into the sport we need sponsors who are prepared to put the money in. No disrespect but his team are 2nd or 3rd div in football terms with riders over the hill or 2nd string riders. If i was a sponsor i would be looking at what publicity am i getting back and Tudor really are just making up the numbers really.paultryan200214-11-2026
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