ProTeam Lotto–Intermarché wraps up Tirreno-Adriatico with 8th place and positive feeling ahead of the classics

# Lotto–Intermarché Concludes Tirreno-Adriatico with Promising Performance and Positivity Ahead of Classics

The final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, stretching from Civitanova Marche to San Benedetto del Tronto, frequently provides an ideal opportunity for sprinters, and this time was no exception for Lotto–Intermarché and their rider, Arnaud De Lie. Unfortunately, De Lie faced early adversity in the form of a punctured tire that challenged his race strategy.

“During the descent before the final climb I felt that I was losing pressure in my rear tyre,” he recounted while reflecting on the day’s events. “At first I wanted to wait before changing bikes and thought I had made the right decision, but if you’re not the best climber and you also have a puncture…”

Despite the setback, De Lie eventually switched bikes and then embarked on a strenuous chase to close a gap of over two minutes. His teammate, Cédric Beullens, also encountered mechanical issues, forcing him to abandon the race early. This left Georg Zimmermann and Huub Artz to spearhead the effort to bring De Lie back into contention. “The team worked really hard and eventually we managed to reconnect, but it cost a lot of energy,” noted De Lie.

In a remarkable display of resilience, De Lie sprinted to secure eighth place in San Benedetto del Tronto. “I was completely empty at the finish,” he admitted. “Then a top-10 result like this isn’t bad at all. I had good legs; on that climb, I rode one of my best 20-minute efforts. That’s a feeling I have to take with me into the classics. I came here to suffer and to build race rhythm for the spring, and I succeeded in that.”

Sports director Mario Aerts also expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance over the past week in Italy. Reflecting on the unfortunate loss of Lennert Van Eetvelt after the opening time trial, Aerts stated, “He has already trained again and we expect to see him back at Milan–Sanremo as planned.” Despite this setback, Aerts highlighted the team’s adaptability and achievements: “We had two objectives left: sprint with Arnaud and try to get into the breakaway. We succeeded in that. De Lie took a second place here and today an eighth despite his bad luck. I’ve seen a very good team over the past week, and that is promising for what’s to come.”

As the team prepares for upcoming classics, they carry forward a spirit of determination and optimism.