Arnaud, you have spent a lot of time in Spain in recent weeks. Do you feel a difference, physically, compared to last year at this same time?
“Yes, first of all I'm a little more tanned… And I have more vitamin D. But above all I was able to ride a lot more, in a qualitative way. My approach to the 2025 season is totally different from these last seasons With these five weeks spent in Spain, renting a house there was perhaps the best choice of my young career. It was ideal to be able to ride in good conditions, in the sun. hours in December. In Belgium, at this time, it's simply impossible. During these five weeks of training well, I didn't have to go to my limits with these outings in the sun. I didn't die when I got back to bed, I didn't say to myself. not : 'And tomorrow, I have to do another four hours in the cold…' It makes a big difference. Besides, after the internship at the beginning of January, I will again rent a house in Spain until a week before the Nieuwsblad. This is an important step in my career.”
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This first meeting of the season in Belgium still motivates you as much?
“Yes! I really like this race. Its atmosphere is very special as it is the first in Belgium. It may not have the reputation of an E3 Grand Prix, but it has something about its atmosphere. Its start at Kuipke is simply great And then, I rode well there during my first two participations… I showed that I can win it With the jersey. Belgian champion on my back, I will be really there motivated! Even more so with this Mur de Grammont that I really like on the course. I have climbed it four times in the race and each time I finished in the top 10…”
There have been many departures within your team: Campenaerts, Florian Vermeersch, Van Gils, Kron, Moniquet… How do you see your squad for the new season?
“We lost strong men, it's true. But we still have qualities in our core. For the classics, we also have a good group, built in recent years. With De Buyst, Beullens, Grignard, Van Moer, but also Jenno Berckmoes, who is coming off a very good season, a very promising and motivated Alec Segaert And there is also Lennert Van Eetvelt, who has many goals like me.
Your team decided not to compete in Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico, which were considered essential before the classics. Is this a problem for you?
“No. The bike has changed. Van der Poel wasn't there last year either before carrying out a great classics campaign, with his successes at E3, at Ronde, at Roubaix. Well, that's van der Poel, but if you do things well, you can arrive in good shape when you need to. Instead, I will do a ten-day training course with my coach Gaëtan Bille. In relation to the program, the team makes decisions. It is not necessary to face your fate, to find solutions. This is also what the 2024 season taught me. And then, it will bring me a certain freshness which often succeeds for me. bad to arrive at Sanremo with a dry paw…”
Discover our offbeat interview with Arnaud De Lie
