ProTeam Arnaud De Lie ends Tour de Wallonie with third place in both final stage and overall classification
# Arnaud De Lie Concludes Tour de Wallonie with Solid Performances
After securing a stage victory in Eupen, Arnaud De Lie entered the final stage of the Tour de Wallonie with a firm grip on third place in the overall standings. The challenging route to Aubel tested the cyclists and De Lie was determined to maintain his position at the front of the peloton throughout the race. “It was an exceptionally tough day from start to finish. I wanted to stay among the first twenty riders at all times so I wouldn’t have to chase. As a team, we did that really well,” said De Lie.
As the race approached its climax, De Lie seized an opportunity during the sprint. “I saw an opening and went for it, maybe a little too early, and that’s a pity. Perhaps I should have approached it differently, but I’m very happy with my performance today. I felt really good.” Ultimately, only overall winner Ben Oliver and Killian Théot crossed the finish line ahead of him.
The sprint was marred by a significant crash occurring around 200 meters from the finish. Fortunately, De Lie managed to navigate his way past the chaos. “Most of all, I’m very happy that I wasn’t involved in it,” he remarked.
Due to the crash, Riley Sheehan lost his leader’s jersey to Ben Oliver, paving the way for De Lie’s secure third place finish in the stage and the overall classification. “In the end, the margins were very small, but I think Ben Oliver is a deserving winner. Congratulations to him,” he acknowledged.
Reflecting on the race, De Lie noted that his physical form improved throughout the stages. “Honestly, it got better with each stage. During yesterday’s victory, I already felt at the bottom of the uphill finishing straight that my legs were excellent. Today, I was able to stay with the front group on every climb, which shows that my form is good.”
Heading into the Tour de Wallonie, De Lie had clear objectives. “Above all, I wanted to regain good feelings on the bike. If victories came along the way, that would be a bonus. In the end, that victory came in the fourth stage, and I leave this race with a lot of confidence, both physically and mentally. Today was a very tough race, and efforts like these show that I’m on the right track. You learn from small mistakes like the one I made in the sprint and take valuable lessons into the next races,” he concluded.
With performances like these, the future looks promising for De Lie as he gears up for the challenges ahead.
*Photo Credit: PhotoNews*
