ProTeam Arnaud De Lie eager to race the Tour de Wallonie on home roads

# Arnaud De Lie Set to Tackle Tour de Wallonie on Familiar Terrain

Arnaud De Lie is gearing up to participate in the Ethias Tour de Wallonie, an eagerly awaited event for the Belgian cyclist who has not raced here since 2023. The rescheduling of the Tour de Wallonie—now held over six weeks earlier—affords De Lie an ideal opportunity to prepare for the Tour de France, which he has aimed for in the past.

The significance of the event isn’t lost on De Lie, as many of the stages are deeply connected to his personal history. “It doesn’t put any extra pressure on me, quite the opposite. I know these roads like the back of my hand,” he shares. Training rides have only heightened his excitement for the race. “During my training rides over the past few days, I could already see the race signs everywhere, and that gives me a really nice feeling. I know where every roundabout is and where I need to be well-positioned,” he explains.

However, the road to the Tour de Wallonie hasn’t been without its challenges. A bacterial infection caused by contaminated rainwater during the Lotto Famenne Classic forced De Lie to abandon the Giro d’Italia. Reflecting on this difficult period, he notes, “The story is well known. I felt increasingly ill during the flight to Bulgaria. The rest of the team had already been sick, but in my case it took a little longer before the symptoms appeared. In the end, though, the outcome was the same. We all hoped things would improve quickly, but they didn’t. Stopping was the only right decision.”

Looking ahead, De Lie is optimistic about the upcoming stages. “Those first three stages suit me well. I grew up in Libramont, and my youth club, Chevigny, is based there. I live in Vaux-sur-Sûre. My girlfriend lives in Jodoigne. So I have plenty of connections to this race,” he explains, emphasizing his familiarity with the routes. “Three or four times a year I ride these roads, including parts of the Tour de Wallonie route. I see opportunities, and at the same time this race is valuable preparation for the Tour de France. In other years it would have been impossible for me to start here, but this year it’s different—and even more special because it’s so close to home. I’m really looking forward to it.”

With a unique blend of home advantage and determination, De Lie is set to make the most out of the Tour de Wallonie, eyeing both a strong performance and vital preparation for the challenges ahead.