Master class from the team in the Belgian nationals yesterday! Controlled the race and made sure Arnaud De Lie was delivered to the finish in perfect position. Ending a ten-year wait for Lotto Dstny to have a Belgian champion.
"I feel liberated, I really have no words," said a beaming Arnaud De Lie. "This is the most beautiful jersey in the peloton, and I get to wear it for a year. It's unbelievable. I can't wait to show it off, starting soon in the Tour de France."
Lotto Dstny lined up with 20 riders at the Belgian Championship, a presence that did not go unnoticed. Victor Campenaerts spent most of the day in the breakaway. He was caught with only 5 kilometers from the finish.
"That's when we knew it would come down to a sprint," De Lie explained. "I stayed calm throughout. My legs felt good, and my mind was in the right place. My teammates had total confidence in me, and that means a lot. They did an incredible amount of work, and then there was that impressive lead-out. I was on Milan Menten's wheel. When he pulled off, I knew I just had to go. I gave it everything and didn't see anyone around me at the finish… Then I knew I had won."
This victory is even more remarkable given De Lie's challenging spring. He missed much of the season after being diagnosed with Lyme disease. "Mentally, it was really tough, but I also drew a lot of strength from it. A huge weight has lifted off my shoulders. I'm going to enjoy this so much," he said, holding back tears.
With the Belgian tricolor on his shoulders and the Tour de France just around the corner, De Lie is ready to make his mark. "Wearing this jersey there is just a dream," concluded the 22-year-old sprint sensation.
