Arnaud De Lie Surprises Himself with Strong Performance at Etoile de Bessèges
Lotto Dstny rider Arnaud De Lie has exceeded expectations at the Etoile de Bessèges, finishing the five-day French stage race in seventh place overall. De Lie’s standout performance came during the queen stage’s ascent of Mont Bouquet, propelling him to fifth place in the general classification before the closing time trial.
In the time trial, De Lie gave it his all and completed the ten-kilometer uphill finish with a time of 16’36”. The stage win went to Mads Pedersen, who set a time of 15’25”. De Lie’s impressive performance throughout the Etoile de Bessèges secured him a seventh place in the final standings, with Neilson Powless claiming the overall victory by a narrow margin. With two stage victories, the points jersey, and a top-ten overall finish, De Lie can celebrate a highly successful Etoile de Bessèges.
Reflecting on his performance, De Lie said, “Despite it’s not my specialty, I think we still achieved our mission. I am happy with this performance.” He also admitted that the results surpassed his expectations, stating, “The two stage victories, points jersey, and seventh place overall also surprised me, to be honest… this was an extraordinary performance.” De Lie credited his strong Lotto Dstny team for their support, emphasizing that their contributions were pivotal in his success.
Looking ahead, De Lie’s next race will be the Spanish one-day event, Clasica Almeria. He expressed confidence for the upcoming races, stating, “Personally, this strong start to the season gives me a lot of confidence for the races to come.” However, he acknowledged the need for rest following the demanding five-day race, as he prepares for the GP Almeria and the first race on Belgian soil, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
The impressive performance by Arnaud De Lie at the Etoile de Bessèges highlights his potential as a rising star in the cycling world. With his determination, support from his team, and the confidence gained from this race, De Lie is certainly one to watch in the upcoming races of the season.
Images: Nicolas Mabyle – DirectVelo.
