Arnaud De Lie builds confidence by following Pogacar and copies Van der Poel's 2024 Approach to Milan-Sanremo

Arnaud De Lie, 22, is beaming with optimism. Often compared to Tom Boonen, the Walloon cyclist is the star rider for Lotto's slimmed-down team in 2024. Last year, illness forced the Belgian champion to skip the monuments, but this year, he’s determined to make an impact starting with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. “Being able to follow Pogacar in the GP Quebec last year gives me confidence, even if it’s a different dynamic from a Flemish race,” De Lie shared with IDLProCycling.com.

De Lie spent more time than ever training in warm weather, logging five weeks in Spain, which he calls the best decision of his young career. For the first time, he completed two six-hour rides in December. Alongside his training, he created lighthearted videos for his YouTube channel, some of which garnered over 100,000 views. His season kicks off at the end of January.

“The first race will likely be the Gran Premio Castellon, followed by the Classica Comunitat Valenciana,” De Lie explained. “It’s the same as two years ago. Last year, I went to Tenerife, but this year I skipped the altitude camp. Instead, I spent two weeks using an altitude tent at home. First, we’ll do a 10-day training camp with the team, and after that, I’ve rented a house in Spain until a week before Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.”

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No Tirreno-Adriatico or Paris-Nice for De Lie

Tirreno-Adriatico or Paris-Nice: which is the best preparation for the Monuments? That used to be the question. However, Lotto will not be at the start of either race this year. "During that period, I’ll do a training camp with my coach Gaetan Bille, about ten days long. After that, I hope to be in the right shape for Milan–San Remo," says De Lie. "I’ve only ridden it once, and I think I still lack the experience to win it. Everyone knows experience is key there."

Are Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico not essential for building up to the Classics? "Modern cycling has changed a lot. If you look at how Mathieu van der Poel rode an excellent Milan-San Remo last year as his first race of the season... Van der Poel is, of course, Van der Poel, but we see that things have shifted. If you prepare properly, you can reach the right form."

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De Lie aims for a Flemish Classic win in the Belgian colors

Last year, De Lie briefly shifted from cycling to panic mode. He had to drop out early in the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem, realizing afterward that his Lyme disease meant he should never have started those races. "Last season taught me to stay calm when something happens," says De Lie. "You have to accept it and figure out what’s best to do at that moment—without worrying about what your boss might think."

This year, the Belgian has set his sights on being in contention during the finales of the Flemish Classics. “I want to compete for the win. For example, in Gent-Wevelgem, I want to sprint for victory. Whether I finish third or fourth doesn’t matter; the key is that I’ve fought for the win. It’s not about having to do it; it’s about wanting it. That’s a big difference. ‘Having to’ isn’t a nice word because if you truly want something, it comes from within.”

For De Lie, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the Flemish Classic where he especially wants a standout result. “It’s such a special race. It’s the race of the year in Belgium. The atmosphere is incredible, and the start at the Kuipke in Ghent is beautiful. I also feel the Muur van Geraardsbergen in the finale suits me. Climbing the Muur on the large plateau—it feels right. I’ve gained two years of experience there and genuinely believe I can win it. Winning a Flemish Classic while wearing the Belgian champion’s jersey would be truly special.”

De Lie boosted his confidence for the Classics last fall in the GP Québec, where he managed to follow Tadej Pogacar on the final climb. The Slovenian superstar, who will also be a contender in Gent-Wevelgem, is someone De Lie knows he’ll need to keep up with on climbs like the Kemmelberg.“Following Pogacar was really special,” says the Lotto leader.

“Maybe it wasn’t the smartest choice to follow him, but you never know. That moment gives me a lot of confidence because in almost every other WorldTour race, no one could keep up with him. It was an extremely explosive finale. A Flemish Classic is different from Québec, but personally, that moment gives me a lot of confidence. As a rider, you look for those moments—but also for victories. Still, it was one of the highlights of last season.”

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Lotto’s weakened classics team

Despite Pogacar’s presence in many of the classics, the Lotto team surrounding De Lie seems to have weakened. Key riders like Victor Campenaerts, Florian Vermeersch, and Pascal Eenkhoorn have left the team after Lotto failed to secure a second sponsor to invest in the squad. However, De Lie remains optimistic.

“We lost some very strong riders with many seasons of experience,” De Lie acknowledges. “But we’ve also got several young riders with less experience, like Jenno Berckmoes, who had an amazing season, and Alec Segaert, who was also very strong. And there are more young riders ready to step up.”

“We’ve lost some key players, but we’ve kept a solid group with Jasper De Buyst, Cedric Beullens, Sebastien Grignard, and Brent Van Moer. We’ve been riding together for four years now. The most important thing in the classics is experience. If we’re at the front at the right moment, it doesn’t matter who’s there with you,” concludes the ever-determined Walloon.

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