Arnaud De Lie, the rising star of professional cycling, reflects on his remarkable debut season and shares his aspirations for the upcoming year in an exclusive interview with ProTeam. With nine victories under his belt already, De Lie aims to take on bigger challenges and win races of a higher level.
De Lie acknowledges the learning experiences from the 2022 season, stating, “Watching a race on TV is not necessarily the same as when you live it in reality.” He highlights the importance of races like Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and Gent-Wevelgem in his development as a cyclist, despite not achieving his best results in those events.
Looking ahead to 2023, De Lie expresses his desire to win races like Gent-Wevelgem and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, explaining, “I do not necessarily want to win more than in 2022, but I do want to win races of a higher level.” He also mentions the changes within the team, including new trainers, a dietician, and collaboration with the University of Ghent, all contributing to a positive transformation.
While aiming for success in prestigious races like Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix, De Lie remains grounded, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and supporting his teammate Caleb Ewan. He also shares his excitement about returning to iconic routes like the Poggio and the Carrefour de l’Arbre.
Although grand tours are not on the agenda for De Lie this season, he believes participating in events like Paris-Nice will provide valuable experience and opportunities for victory. For the 21-year-old cyclist, 2023 will be deemed successful by proving himself in the finals of WorldTour or ProSeries classics or winning significant races.
