Three victories in twelve days, when the last one dates back to early last September. It hasn't been an easy spring for Arnaud De Lie, who would have liked and could have left his mark in all the classics from Sanremo to Amstel and instead found himself at the post with not even sufficient condition. They have stopped at Ghent, finished more than 5 minutes after Pedersen and with his head down, when it was clear that things were not going well, but not why.
Lyme disease
It took some more in-depth analysis to find out traces of the Lyme disease, which is usually caused by the bite of a tick. For a boy who lives on a farm the hypothesis was not even that remote and could perhaps explain the spring that was below expectations. In any case, De Lie stoppedFor a while he was at home in the heart of the Ardennes, then he moved to France to inspect some stages of the Tour and completed his preparations in Nice. The team didn't put any pressure on him.She let him get back to his normal level, and when she finally got him back on track, she was quick to say she had no expectations.
He already had enough of those. He returned to the Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic and won itThe following week he finished third at the GP du Morbihan. The next day he won the Tro Bro Leon e just yesterday he took home the Circuit de Wallonie.
"We didn't expect results from Arnaud," sporting director Kurt Van de Wouver told Het Nieuwsblad. "It wouldn't have been right. He had just finished a rather long break. He had done the necessary training kilometers, but above all he needs racing kilometers to improveAfter about four races, we already know more. Now he has to find his magic touch on the bike again."
The pleasure of running
The first step of the turning point came when De Lie has regained his good mood: it is no coincidence that the same speech was made yesterday by Damiani on Benjamin ThomasEveryone had noticed how gloomy he was compared to the boy who turned professional at twenty. And it was immediately clear that if a winner of his level cannot express himself at the levels he already belongs to, becomes a victim of all kinds of frustrationsThe psychological turnaround was welcomed by everyone, including him.
"If Arnaud has fun on the bike again," Van de Wouver continued, "the results will come. But the same goes the other way around." If there are results, the fun will definitely return.. In this regard, the recent victories have helped a lot. Everything is connected. So once the results come back, De Lie will regain his self-confidence."
With friends in Nice
De Lie has changed his tone. Finding victory again after defeating Lyme disease has somehow given him confirmation of having identified the cause of his problems and eradicated it.
«Winning – he says – was an important turning point. The first step in this phase was to identify the disease, to know what was happening. When I resumed, my legs were still heavy. I took antibiotics for ten days And the team doctor confirmed that I was in the early stages of this infectious disease. After antibiotic treatment, I began reconstruction. That's why I went to Nice alone. I spent five days in the sun, I was happy to be alone: my main goal was to find the joy in cycling again.It was a fun time, I met other riders like Caleb Ewan. If I'd stayed home, I'd only have encountered deer or wild boar. I not only rediscovered the pleasure of cycling, but also the atmosphere in the group.. And the confirmation that I can still win made things much better. I'll continue to find myself race after race."
A little pig on the farm
The victory in Tro Bro Leon he brought him a piglet as a reward. Last year he lost it to Giacomo Nizzolo, which hit that very day the only success of 2023It's a very particular race, according to some the French rival of the Strade Bianche, ideal for a classics man like De Lie.
"You have to have really good legs to win it," he explained, "and I remembered last year's finale very well. We don't have a piglet like the one they gave me on our farm yet. Before I left, my uncle gave me a box to transport it properly, just to be safe. But it wasn't exactly easy. I got my first puncture with 70 kilometers to go and set off again, but without knowing where I was. I had two flat tires and changed bikes. I got back to the front and attacked in the cobblestone sector of La Ferme, causing a small split. But I got another puncture.
"I was forced to chase again, but in the end we managed to run a great race. I stayed calm. I was particularly worried about Venturini and Mozzato, who were running at homeI knew I still had good legs and didn't want to make the same mistake as last year in the final sprint. My form is coming back, and that's the most important thing."
Now Switzerland
Even though he himself doesn't want to hear about a comeback, yesterday's victory at the GP Wallonie has a strong sense of accomplishment. In a race with 1.983 meters of elevation gain, De Lie pushed the pace first with 65 kilometres to go, on the steep Rue Toffette which has gradients of up to 14 percent.. He then took advantage of the colossal work of Campenaerts, who spent the whole day chasing the fugitives.
"I have no idea how many kilometers I ran in the lead," the winner said at the end, "but it was impressive. Then we had a great sprint. Lionel Taminiaux launched me. I waited and I unleashed at the right momentNow, however, the toughest test of the Tour de Suisse awaits me, but it doesn't scare me. I know Peter Sagan holds the stage record, having won 18: who knows if I'll ever be able to do the same. I feel strong. Mentally I've made a big step."
