"You can also tell by his behaviour. Arnaud De Lie looks a bit nervous" - Spy in the peloton believes pressure is getting to Belgian prospect

Last weekend, Arnaud De Lie was the heavy favourite for victory at Le Samyn. After a crash put an end to his race-winning hopes however, the Belgian cut a visibly frustrated figure at the roadside.

According to Sporza's unnamed 'spy in the peloton', De Lie may be cracking under the weight of the added expectations he now has in Belgium. "You can also tell by his behaviour. De Lie looks a bit nervous," says the spy in his latest report for Sporza. "The fact that he has not yet won causes unrest in his head. It is something he is confronted with for the first time in his career."

After a breakthrough year in 2023, De Lie has been heavily touted as a potential star of Classics season this time around with some even saying he has the potential to challenge for victories alongside the likes Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogacar.

"De Lie doesn't have to worry about his condition. At first he went along quite smoothly in the first group led by 5 riders from Visma-Lease a Bike. On the Muur he was the man who took matters into his hands behind leader Jorgenson," says the spy of De Lie's performance at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. "With a stage win in Paris-Nice, De Lie could well be set for a fruitful spring. He will want to seize every opportunity he gets in the Race to the Sun."