Arnaud De Lie, a 19-year-old Belgian cyclist, is set to make his move from the Lotto Soudal Development Team to the WorldTeam on January 1, 2022. After impressing with strong results in previous seasons, De Lie has signed a two-year agreement with the team. Last season, he became the Belgian champion in the junior category and secured third place at the European championships in Plouay. De Lie also achieved significant victories in the Vlaams-Brabantse Pijl race and the overall victory at the Belgium Cup. De Lie’s exceptional performance has earned him a spot in the prestigious Lotto Soudal WorldTeam.
De Lie expressed his excitement about joining the team, stating, “Personally, it is more than a dream come true. At the start of the season, I didn’t even know what 2021 would bring, due to the whole Covid situation. Somehow, I managed to convince Lotto Soudal.”
Despite being a first-year U23 rider, De Lie has already showcased his talent among the pros. He achieved a third-place finish at the GP Vermarc and secured three top ten results at the Giro U23. Recently, De Lie clinched a solo victory at the GP Color Code in Bassenge, which marked the beginning of the U23 Road Series.
De Lie chose Lotto Soudal over other interested teams and highlighted the team’s support and opportunity provided to him. He had the opportunity to train alongside experienced riders such as Brent Van Moer, John Degenkolb, Tim Wellens, and Philippe Gilbert, who De Lie considers his idol. De Lie looks forward to becoming Gilbert’s teammate.
While De Lie sees himself primarily as a Classics rider, he also possesses strong finishing skills and a decent time trial ability. He acknowledges that he still needs to improve and develop his skills further, but he believes it is not too early to turn professional, citing riders like Remco Evenepoel and Tadej PogaÄar as examples of young cyclists who have achieved great success. De Lie is ambitious and determined to build his own successful career.
Lotto Soudal General Manager, John Lelangue, expressed his confidence in De Lie’s potential, stating, “Arnaud is a big talent, and we will monitor his evolution very carefully. Step by step, just like we’re doing with all of our young guys. We build the future, and in 2021, the young guys already showed themselves really well. Also, Arnaud won’t disappoint us. We count on him, but most of all, he can count on the team!”
With their latest addition, Lotto Soudal continues to invest in young talent and build a promising future for the team. Arnaud De Lie’s inclusion in the WorldTeam is a testament to his exceptional skills and potential.
