Was he able to put a finger on the exact problems he had? “A bit of everything, I think. Lyme disease was one of the answers to the questions I had. Mentally, it was important for me to understand what wasn’t working.”
If I didn't feel well, I wouldn't be at the start this Sunday.
Now it's time for the race, which he tackles with bib 1 and at home, surrounded by his fans. “If I didn't feel good, I wouldn't be starting”, specifies De Lie. “My condition is good, although I am obviously not in the best shape. I'm setting off without any pressure and with a solid team, including Maxim Van Gils at my side. He was very strong during the Ardennes classics and so we have some good cards to play.”
And after the Famenne Ardenne Classic, is De Lie’s program – who should make his Tour de France debut next July – shaping up differently to what was initially planned? “We will analyze things race by race. We will first see how it goes this Sunday, then there will be two races in France (The Grand Prix du Morbihan and the Tro-Bro Léon). Then we'll see how I feel.” finishes Lotto runner Dstny.
Sign sprints, Sunday fries and evening of thanks: zoom on the young years of Arnaud De Lie
