ProTeam De Lie-Widar duo ready for the Tour of the Algarve
# De Lie and Widar Gear Up for Tour of the Algarve
Arnaud De Lie begins the 2023 cycling season with promising energy following his initial competitive outing in Almería, Spain, where he secured a sixth-place finish. Reflecting on his performance, De Lie stated, “In Almería I was a bit left wanting more, but above all I remember how good the feeling was. And that is often not the case in my first race.” Having recovered from an ankle injury that sidelined him briefly in December, he expressed confidence in his physical condition: “I knew my legs were good.”
Looking forward to the Tour of the Algarve, De Lie sees two prime opportunities for success. He identified the opening stage to Tavira, which features a slightly uphill finish, and the stage concluding in Lagos as key moments to capitalize on. “I mainly want to build confidence. Winning is a bonus, but that’s not necessarily what this week is all about. I want to raise my level compared to where I was when I arrived here,” he commented. De Lie added, “Of course, if you can win, the confidence only grows. So naturally I will go for it. I start with ambition…”
In his pursuit of success, De Lie is also focused on refining his sprint positioning. He acknowledged the strength of his teammates, which includes Joshua Giddings, Cédric Beullens, Huub Artz, Liam Slock, and Luca Van Boven, all of whom form part of his lead-out train. “It’s up to us to keep developing that here. The team is going well, there is confidence and I’m in good form. All the ingredients are there for a great week in Portugal,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, teammate Widar prepares to tackle challenging stages that suit his strengths. Notable among these are the second stage from Portimão to Fóia and the final stage to Alto do Malhão, which features a strenuous climb. “I have reconned those finishes, they suit me. But have you seen the start list as well?” Widar quipped regarding the competition. He relishes the opportunity to compete against notable riders early in the season, including Almeida and Ayuso.
In his debut season as a professional cyclist, Widar had a solid showing last weekend in the Figueiras Champions Classic, achieving a fourth-place finish. “I lacked the punch needed to follow Morgado comfortably,” he admitted. Identifying key areas for growth, he added, “Those one- to two-minute efforts, where you have to get out of the saddle, will be a point to work on.”
As both riders head into the Tour of the Algarve, there’s a palpable sense of ambition and eagerness to excel, setting the stage for an exciting week of racing in Portugal.
